Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight champion, Max Holloway, is coming off back-to-back defeats to current division king, Alexander Volkanovski, giving him three losses in his last four outings.
After coughing up his strap to Volkanovski at UFC 245, “Blessed” received an immediate rematch, though he came up on the wrong end of a split decision six months later at UFC 251. Despite the setbacks to “The Great,” Holloway feels he is still the best fighter of the two.
And he’s willing to run it back again and again…and again to prove it.
“If it was Kobe [Bryant] and Michael [Jordan], they would play 10 times, just to let people know who the best is,” Holloway told ESPN. “That’s the mentality I strive for. If you want to run it back 100 times, we can do it. I’m gonna show you I’m the better guy. I don’t know what kind of mentality [Volkanovski] has, but I know what I want to do and what kind of legacy I want to leave.”
For Max, getting the support from his fellow fighters — and even his boss — who felt he won the rematch further proves his case and adds fuel to his fire. That’s why he is so determined in trying to get another shot at the champ.
“This guy is sitting at a place that’s not right with me. I don’t feel like it’s right. Are we gonna fight again? It’s up to him. If I had it my way, I’ll fight you 10 times in one night, 10 times once a month. I’m a competitor. I need to compete. I truly believe I was put on this earth to fight and compete.”
For now, “Blessed” will shift his attention toward Calvin Kattar as the two men are set to headline an upcoming “Fight Night” event on Jan. 16, 2021. The winner will undoubtedly put himself in prime position for a championship fight against the winner of Volkanovski and Brian Ortega, who will be matched up sometime in 2021.