Max Holloway explains decision to book BMF showdown at UFC 300 with Justin Gaethje: ‘This fight is crazy’

Max Holloway explains reason to take crazy fight with Justin Gaethje at UFC 300Former UFC featherweight champion, Max Holloway explains decision to take Justin Gaethje fight rather than wait for a potential…

Max Holloway explains reason to take crazy fight with Justin Gaethje at UFC 300

Former UFC featherweight champion, Max Holloway explains decision to take Justin Gaethje fight rather than wait for a potential title shot. 

Holloway is under a month out from his clash at UFC 300 against ‘The Highlight’. While an exciting clash, the booking came out of the blue and actually left some a little concerned for Max Holloway, who will be moving up in weight. 

Justin Gaethje issues warning to Max Holloway ahead of UFC 300 I'm the best at creating damage
Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

Last time he did so, he was soundly beaten by Dustin Poirier which left him bloody and swollen. Holloway is also riding back-to-back wins over Chan Sung Jung and Arnold Allen, leaving him as a front-runner for a shot at Ilia Topuria and his title. 

Topuria knocked out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 and with an immediate rematch unlikely, Holloway seemed a viable candidate. Aside from both Volkanovski and Topuria, Holloway has practically cleared out the rest of the top featherweights but instead chose to take on Gaethje.

Max Holloway reveals reason for UFC 300 fight with Justin Gaethje

Taking on his YouTube channel, Holloway explained why – 

“There’s a lot of people talking about like, ‘Oh, this fight is crazy, Why you guys are doing this fight?’” Max Holloway said. “‘Why, why Max? Why don’t you just wait for Topuria? Why don’t you just wait?’ Not a lot of people know: this game, it goes by you fast, man. It goes by you quick.”

Holloway’s clash against Gaethje will be his 30th UFC fight and is experience enough to understand the MMA game. It moves quick, anything can happen. 

“Nothing is promised. How many times do we see someone promised a title shot and it never happened? Holloway questioned. “How much time do you see someone fight for an interim title shot and it never happens? Me and Gaethje were the next guys respectfully up in our title shot. Correct? But how many times does that work? It doesn’t work all the time. So with the Topuria thing everybody keeps saying, ‘Oh, you’re the next one.’ It’s like, am I really?

Max Holloway calls for UFC 300 BMF title fight with Justin Gaethje next that's the idea
Mandatory Credit: Suhaimi Abdullah

“I thought this whole time that if Topuria beat Volk in any way, Volk gets a direct rematch,” he continued. “Volk did enough work to earn himself a direct rematch. And everybody’s like, ‘Oh yeah, but after the knockout,’ and blah blah. Volk still earns it. He still earns it. He did what he did. He has a bunch of title defensive. Just because he went up a weight class and lost, I don’t think it should affect him at his own weight class.”

Who wins, Max Holloway or Justin Gaethje?

Justin Gaethje issues stark warning to Max Holloway ahead of UFC 300: ‘I’m the best at creating damage’

Justin Gaethje issues warning to Max Holloway ahead of UFC 300 I'm the best at creating damageSlated to make his return at UFC 300 in a massive symbolic BMF championship fight against Max Holloway next…

Justin Gaethje issues warning to Max Holloway ahead of UFC 300 I'm the best at creating damage

Slated to make his return at UFC 300 in a massive symbolic BMF championship fight against Max Holloway next month, former interim lightweight champion, Justin Gaethje has warned the Hawaiian that when it comes to “creating damage” inside the Octagon – he’s the supreme.

Gaethje, a former interim lightweight champion and the current symbolic BMF titleholder, is set to make his return to the Octagon next month on the main card of UFC 300, taking on Holloway – fresh off a scintillating high-kick KO win over recent big-winner, Dustin Poirier last July.

Max Holloway tries to pants Justin Gaethje during face off ahead of UFC 300 title fight
Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

As for Holloway, the former undisputed featherweight champion is booked to make his sophomore outing at the lightweight limit against Gaethje, as he puts his two-fight winning run over Arnold Allen, and future Hall of Fame inductee, Chan Sung Jung on the line at UFC 300. 

Justin Gaethje sends warning to Max Holloway pre-UFC 300

And previewing his fan-friendly fight with Holloway for symbolic BMF spoils next month, Gaethje has warned the former that he’s facing an opponent who knows how to create damage the most efficiently in the sport.

“I don’t take anything from the past and apply it to the situation that I’m going to be in,” Justin Gaethje told UFC.com during a recent interview. “I think that the same case could be said for Tony Ferguson. And no one had ever knocked out Dustin Poirier like that. I promise you that. I’m the best at creating damage.”

Max Holloway reintroduced sparring into training ahead of UFC Kansas City win
Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

“If I go in there [at UFC 300], and fight my fight, stay calm, happiness, anger, no emotion can help me in there. I gotta be clearheaded, focused. There’s nothing like being under these lights. I live for it, and more so than most. I’m excited, I’m going to be ready for it.” 

Justin Gaethje opens as betting favorite to beat Max Holloway in BMF title fight at UFC 300

Gaethje’s stark claims of his ability to irreversibly hurt his opponents has been given credence by former two-weight champion, Henry Cejudo to boot, who urged Holloway to even consider withdrawing from his UFC 300 clash with the Arizonian

Who wins at UFC 300 next month: Justin Gaethje or Max Holloway?

Video – The countdown to UFC 300 begins with an epic trailer hyping the historic fight card on April 13

Video - The countdown to UFC 300 begins with an epic trailer hyping the historic fight cardThe countdown to UFC 300 has begun! On Saturday, April 13, the Las Vegas-based promotion will present its next…

Video - The countdown to UFC 300 begins with an epic trailer hyping the historic fight card

The countdown to UFC 300 has begun!

On Saturday, April 13, the Las Vegas-based promotion will present its next big landmark event, UFC 300, live from the familiar confines of T-Mobile Arena in Sin City. To get fans hyped for one of the biggest fight cards in MMA history, Ultimate Fighting Championship has released an epic trailer featuring the card’s biggest names.

In the main event of the evening, reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira will put his gold on the line against former titleholder Jamahal Hill. It will be Hill’s first time competing since he won the belt with a dominant performance against Glover Teixeira in January 2023. ‘Sweet Dreams’ was forced to vacate the title after sustaining an Achilles injury last summer, never having the opportunity to defend his crown.

That ultimately led to a clash between Pereira and former champion Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295 to crown a new king of the division. ‘Poatan’ came out on top, scoring yet another highlight-reel knockout in the second round of their co-main event.

UFC 300

Strawweight champion Zhang Weili returns in the uFC 300 co-Main Event

In the UFC 300 co-headliner, strawweight world champion Zhang Weili puts it all on the line against Yan Xiaonan in a battle between two of China’s finest imports. Reclaiming the title with a second-round submission of Carla Esparza, at UFC 292, Zhang is fresh off an absolutely dominant performance against Amanda Lemos in her last outing.

She’ll look to deliver a similar result against Yan, a 17-3 fighter with noteworthy wins against Mackenzie Dern and Jessica Andrade in her last two outings.

UFC 300

And what is being touted as the people’s main event, BMF titleholder Justin Gaethje puts his bragging rights belt on the line against former featherweight champion Max Holloway in a battle between two of the greatest strikers in all of mixed martial arts.

Check out the full UFC 300 card below:

Main Card (ESPN+ PPV)

  • Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill
  • Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan
  • Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway
  • Bo Nickal vs. Cody Brundage
  • Charles Oliveira vs. Armen Tsarukyan

Preliminary Card (ESPN/ESPN+)

  • Jiri Prochazka vs. Aleksandar Rakic
  • Calvin Kattar vs. Aljamain Sterling
  • Holly Holm vs. Kayla Harrison
  • Sodiq Yusuff vs. Diego Lopes
  • Jalin Turner vs. Renato Moicano
  • Jessica Andrade vs. Marina Rodriguez
  • Bobby Green vs. Jim Miller
  • Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Cody Garbrandt
UFC 300

Khabib Nurmagomedov confused by the UFC’s recent handling of the lightweight division: ‘It makes no sense’

KhabibKhabib Nurmagomedov does not understand the UFC’s handling of the lightweight division as of late. After laying down the…

Khabib

Khabib Nurmagomedov does not understand the UFC’s handling of the lightweight division as of late.

After laying down the lightweight title and walking away from the sport in 2020, Nurmagomedov helped his friend and protege Islam Makhachev climb to the top of the division, claiming the 155-pound crown for himself. Since then, the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ has defended the belt twice, both against former featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski.

Last defending the title in October, many assumed that Makhachev would return in the spring for a showdown with Justin Gaethje. However, those plans were seemingly scrapped — or at the very least put on hold — when the promotion announced that ‘The Highlight’ would battle Max Holloway in a BMF superfight at UFC 300.

As exciting as that sounds, Gaethje’s pairing with Holloway has left Makhachev in limbo — a decision that has Khabib Nurmagomedov scratching his head in confusion.

“All respect for Max Holloway, but I don’t know, and I don’t understand why UFC make this fight,” Nurmagomedov told MMA Junkie following an appearance for Class A Events. “Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway: It makes no sense – (that’s) my opinion. My opinion, Holloway is supposed to fight with (Ilia) Topuria next, maybe September. Justin Gaethje is supposed to fight with Islam in May or June, and Tsarukyan vs. Oliveira, they fight in April. Whoever wins that (should be fighting) the winner of Islam vs. Justin Gaethje.

“Now, Topuria will fight with who? Movsar (Evloev) is the best option. I don’t know if Dana White will give him (a title shot). My opinion, he deserves this. I don’t understand. It makes no sense why they don’t give Islam (a fight with) Justin Gaethje, why they make him fight vs. Holloway.”

UFC CEO Dana White had previously stated that Makhachev was working through an injury, prompting the promotion to book Gaethje vs. Holloway and Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan at the landmark event on April 13.

However, Islam Makhachev has remained adamant that he is ready to defend his title, leading to a stalemate with no clear path forward.

“I don’t understand what UFC have planned,” Nurmagomedov said. “But Islam ready to fight with anyone.”

Max Holloway urged to withdraw from BMF title fight with Justin Gaethje at UFC 300: ‘He will hurt you’

Max Holloway urged to withdraw from UFC 300 title fight with Justin Gaethje he will hurt youFormer undisputed featherweight champion, Max Holloway has been urged to consider withdrawing from his UFC 300 symbolic BMF title…

Max Holloway urged to withdraw from UFC 300 title fight with Justin Gaethje he will hurt you

Former undisputed featherweight champion, Max Holloway has been urged to consider withdrawing from his UFC 300 symbolic BMF title fight with Justin Gaethje in April by former duel-weight champion, Henry Cejudo, who claims the former interim lightweight champion will cause irreversible damage to the Hawaiin if they fight.

Holloway, a former undisputed featherweight gold holder, has been sidelined since he headlined UFC Fight Night Singapore back in August – turning in a Fight of the Night display against former title chaser, Chan Sung Jung, landing a spectacular third round KO win ovsr the South Korean.

And as for Gaethje, the Arizona native landed hismelf the symbolic BMF title back in July of last year in Salt Lake City in the main event of UFC 291 against common-foe, Dustin Poirier, turning in a stunning second round high-kick KO in Utah.

Slated to feature in a high-profile UFC 300 main card clash in April, Gaethje will attempt to lodge his first attempted defense of the symbolic BMF crown against Holloway – and hopes to earn an undisputed lightweight title siege with a win.

Max Holloway backed to exit UFC 300 title fight return

However, ahead of the much-anticipated pairing between Gaethje and Holloway, the above-mentioned, Cejudo urged the Hawaiian to eject himself from the BMF title clash – at all costs.

“Get Max Holloway out of the fight with Justin Gaethje and give him that fight [against Ilia Topuria] in Spain,” Henry Cejudo told MMA Junkie. “You fight a guy like Justin Gaethje – Justin Gaethje is a dude that will hurt you, and you will not be the same. He’s done it to Tony Ferguson, he’s done it to a lot of people.”

“It’s lights out when you fight a guy like Justin Gaethje,” Cejudo explained. “I think sometimes you probably gotta save these guys from themselves.”

Do you think Max Holloway can defeat Justin Gaethje at UFC 300?

Jorge Masvidal Training for Boxing, MMA Fights; Eyes Gaethje, Covington as Opponents

Former UFC star Jorge Masvidal retired less than a year ago, but he’s already gearing up for his return to fighting. Masvidal told ESPN’s Marc Raimondi that…

Former UFC star Jorge Masvidal retired less than a year ago, but he’s already gearing up for his return to fighting. Masvidal told ESPN’s Marc Raimondi that…