Max Holloway News

Chris Taylor - December 2, 2017

Pros react to Max Holloway stopping Jose Aldo at UFC 218 UFC 218 delivered in a big way some amazing fights and spectacular finishes.

Chris Taylor - December 2, 2017

UFC 218 Results: Max Holloway vs. Jose Aldo A featherweight title fight rematch between current champ Max Holloway and former division kingpin Jose Aldo served as the main event of tonight’s UFC 218 fight card in Detroit.

Justin Golightly - December 2, 2017

Weigh-ins are always a tough time for anyone, but especially for championship bouts. So many fights have been ruined by a bad weight cut. Last night’s main event for The Ultimate Fighter finale was even switched up due to kidney failure. Both Max Holloway and Jose Aldo appeared to be going through tough cuts and they each had their own mishaps. Holloway got his manhood exposed by a helpful Justin Gaethje, while Aldo missed weight on his first attempt and seemed to be drained and exhausted. When asked about his trouble cutting weight, Aldo delivered one of the most amazing lines in MMA history to Aaron Bronsteter of TSN.  Aaron Bronsteter: You got on the scale today at 146, then you had to take off the shorts and you made weight at 145. Did you have any questions about whether or not you’d make weight?

Justin Golightly - December 1, 2017

One by one he took them out. Every single one of them. No matter who the UFC threw at Max Holloway, he dispatched them. He stacked up a 10-fight win streak, seven of them being either by submission or TKO/KO. Topping it all off by finishing the former featherweight king Jose Aldo. After ushering in the ‘Blessed Era’, Holloway struts into fight week ahead of his rematch with Aldo glistening in a jacket that looks like it was made from his UFC title. The symbolism surely isn’t lost on the Hawaiian fighter, who knows full well what this means for his legacy. “I’ve got bigger things. Bigger fish to fry. It is what it is. I’m just enjoying the moment, enjoying the ride. I get to prove. I get to set a legacy. You want to cement your legacy and I get to do it like Drake said, back to back and December 2nd is where it starts. I’m bringing some Hawaii love. Right here, this is Detroit. My shoes — Big Sean made these shoes — they’re called Hawaii because he always visited Hawaii. So, that’s my little love to Detroit and I’m bringing lava Saturday night.”

Justin Golightly - December 1, 2017

Weigh-ins are always tense, especially when a fighter needs to bring the towel out. So many fights have been called off or changed to catchweights because of the scale. Even tonight’s main event was completely changed due to Sijara Eubanks not even weighing in due to her kidney failure. Both Max Holloway and Jose Aldo needed the towel at the scales but Holloway is the one who stole the show with a little “help” from lightweight Justin Gaethje. MMA, you gotta love it. pic.twitter.com/zr5ZUBf2q8

Justin Golightly - November 30, 2017

After Frankie Edgar had to pull out of UFC 218 due to a injured orbital, there was a crazy storm of fighters trying to get that fight. Once there is a title on the line, everyone comes out of the woodwork. Jose Aldo, Ricardo Lamas, Cub Swanson, and Brian Ortega all wanted to leave their match-ups they were booked in for a chance at Max Holloway’s featherweight title. At the end of the day, it ended up being the former king of the division. Early in the negotiations, Holloway’s manager leaked some of the name ideas, but now he’s just revealed what great lengths Holloway was going to go to stay on the card. “[Darren Elkins was considered as a replacement and] the UFC wasn’t too excited about that. [Max Holloway] said he would fight [Tony] Ferguson, he talked about [Donald] ‘Cowboy’ [Cerrone], going up to 155 and doing whatever. We thought that we were going to get Cub [Swanson]. but it ended up being [Jose] Aldo. Max just calmly said, ‘It is what it is, and let’s do it.’ He signed the bout contract within minutes.”

Justin Golightly - November 21, 2017

Max Holloway wants to make it clear that he has no problem being motivated. It’s hard to think that anyone out there would ever doubt that he isn’t. After all, Holloway went on a 10-fight win streak before finally he was given the chance at the UFC featherweight title. He was up to defend the belt for the first time against Frankie Edgar, but Jose Aldo stepped in to replace the challenger due to an orbital injury. It is what it is. Holloway now has the chance to beat the former division’s king back-to-back, while Aldo claims he’s motivated for his shot at redemption. Max Holloway begs to differ though, questioning why Aldo wasn’t motivated back at UFC 212. “This guy is talking about motivation, how motivated he is for the belt. I have no idea when people talk motivation. [Jose Aldo] was fighting at his hometown as the champion [at UFC 212], and for him to be saying motivation, now he feels way more motivated, fighting for your country and fighting in front of your people, for your belt, is not enough motivation? What’s going on? I’m motivated. The belt is great. You know what comes with the belt? Bigger paydays, pay-per-views, and a lot of stuff, but a belt is a belt and a fight is a fight. I don’t want to go out and get my butt whooped, my ass whooped in front of millions of people watching at home. I can fight this guy 10 times in a row. I’ll be motivated, that’s who I am.”

Justin Golightly - November 21, 2017

When Max Holloway stepped into the cage with former featherweight king Jose Aldo for the first time, he took Aldo out in the third round. Something was missing though, which caused a lot of people to ask, ‘What if?’ Absent were the infamous and thundering leg kicks from the previous champ. It is one of Aldo’s most dangerous weapons, but he wasn’t able to implement them coming into the fight with Holloway due to a leg injury. After Max Holloway spoke up about it recently, Jose Aldo breaks his silence on the matter and vows he’s in perfect condition. “I don’t think there was any cowardice. Every time I’m in there that’s the best Aldo possible. [Max] Holloway was a great fighter that night and was able to win. He deserved it. There’s no excuse. ‘Dede’ [Pederneiras] talked about [my leg injury] because it happened in training, but if I’m in there, that’s the best Aldo available. There’s no excuse. He won because he deserved to win. I’m in perfect condition. There are always small injuries, but nothing that takes any weapon away. I’m kicking, punching, I’m dong everything now. There are no serious injuries. You can expect the best kickboxing, the best muay thai.”

Justin Golightly - November 18, 2017

Frankie Edgar challenging Max Holloway was a fight everyone wanted to see. The two somehow haven’t fought yet and Edgar — along with Chad Mendes — were perpetually switching out for the second best featherweight in the world next to Jose Aldo. When an injury forced him out of his third chance at the title at UFC 218, the former champ was subbed in for a rematch with Holloway. Cub Swanson was in the running for awhile, but one name missing from the equation was Ricardo Lamas. He opened up about the scenario in a recent interview with Luke Thomas. .@RicardoLamasMMA explains why he should have been in the running for a title shot against Max Holloway#TLTS@lthomasnews pic.twitter.com/Dn6YlvC5dE

Justin Golightly - November 17, 2017

It is what it is! Dropping soon! @moskova pic.twitter.com/cCliKDFnfA — Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) November 17, 2017

Justin Golightly - November 17, 2017

After Frankie Edgar was forced to back out of his fight with Max Holloway at UFC 218, all of us were devastated. It’s a fight that we somehow haven’t seen in Holloway’s career, fresh off the heels of the Hawaiian’s dominant performance against former featherweight king Jose Aldo. That was, until we found out it would be none other than Aldo who’d replace Edgar in the fight. How did Holloway react when he found out he’d have a rematch with Aldo? It is what it is. On the premiere of Joe Rogan’s new hour-long MMA round-up show, Rogan couldn’t help but be hype as hell about. “Max Holloway’s a savage. He’s a killer. A straight up killer and not even close to his prime. Max Holloway is long way away from his prime. He’s way better now than he was when he first got into the UFC, he’s continued to get better every fight, now he’s the champion and he just stopped Aldo. And when he they offered him the rematch because Frankie Edgar got injured — they offered [Jose] Aldo the rematch — so Aldo took it. Now it’s going to be Max Holloway versus Aldo II, which is still a huge f-cking fight. When Aldo accepted, Max Holloway wrote on his Instagram, ‘It is what it is.’ Like, ‘No big deal. Well, what are we going to do.’ Like, what? You’re about to fight the greatest featherweight of all time for the second time. And he’s like, ‘It is what it is.’ Like, that’s how badass he is. He just figured, ‘If I f-cked you up once, I’m going to f-ck you up again.'”

Justin Golightly - November 16, 2017

Frankie Edgar had to pull out of his title fight with Max Holloway at UFC 218, but a rematch against Jose Aldo isn’t bad at all for a late replacement. Of course, Edgar would rather it be him, but a broken orbital in training forced him out of the bout. For now, he is back on the sidelines waiting for his crack at the belt once again and giving his insight into the match-up. The former UFC lightweight champion thinks Holloway comes away with his hands raised against Aldo for the second time. “I think [Max] Holloway is going to get it done, but [Jose] Aldo is always dangerous, so you never know. Yeah, for sure I got a message for the winner. I’m coming for that belt man. I’ve not changed my goals. I want to become a two weight champion and I know I’m close to it. I’m just going to get back fit and get it done. […] I think [Max Holloway] understands that it was something out of my hands. I think he understands that and I’m not one to ever back out of anything. I’ve been wanting this shot for a very long time so if anyone is upset about it, it’s going to be myself. I knew it was going to be one of those guys. I don’t know how they come to their decisions, but no, I wasn’t really surprised that they picked Aldo. For sure, it makes more sense that I fight Holloway. Those guys will figure it though. When they fought last time I said they would figure it out and that the true champ would come out. I know I’ll fight the winner.”

Justin Golightly - November 14, 2017

Max Holloway defending his new strap against Frankie Edgar is something everyone was waiting for. Somehow, amid the 11 fighters Holloway took out on his quest for the belt, he never ran into him. Unfortunately, as Edgar geared up for his third shot at the belt and his first fight with Holloway, an injured orbital took him out of the UFC 218 bout. It’s an injury that Edgar admits feels like he lost a fight, but he’ll be back on his quest for gold sooner rather than later. “I definitely feel f-cking bummed and in a funk for the past couple of days. I feel like I lost a fight to be honest. I know these opportunities don’t always present themselves. I’m also not one to stay down, be negative and beat myself up about things. I’m going to heal up, keep training and make sure I’m ready for that fight when it comes. I’m a guy who keeps a positive outlook on things. I’m not going to sit around feeling sorry for myself, and I don’t expect anyone to feel sorry for me either. This is just the type of sh-t that goes down. It’s inevitable. I train at a high level out here with some really good guys and shit happens. There wasn’t any negligence on my part. I train hard for fights and I always have.”

Tom Taylor - November 13, 2017

Originally, UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway was expected to battle long-time contender Frankie Edgar in the main event of UFC 218 this December 2. Unfortunately, Edgar was forced out of this fight with an injury, which jumpstarted an immediate search for a replacement opponent. After a brief search and plenty of guesses as to who Holloway would fight, the UFC ultimately called on Jose Aldo – the very man Holloway defeated to win the undisputed featherweight crown back in June.

Chris Taylor - November 11, 2017

UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway gets a new opponent and will still be defending his title at UFC 218 on December 2 in Detroit, Michigan. MMA Fighting confirms that “Blessed” has agreed to fight Jose Aldo at the highly anticipated event.

Justin Golightly - November 9, 2017

News hit last night that Frankie Edgar unfortunately had to drop out of his title fight with Max Holloway at UFC 218 because of a facial injury that requires surgery. Immediately there was an incredible swarm of fighters coming out to try and take advantage of Edgar’s misfortune. Cub Swanson was the first on the buzzer, hoping to avenge his loss and finally get a chance at gold. Both Jose Aldo and Ricardo Lamas have also expressed interest in leaving their fight together at UFC Winnipeg to potentially capture Holloway’s UFC featherweight title. His management just released a statement of the names in consideration, but stress that the champ is down to fight anyone. When you become the champ the right way, the division is cleaned out… Choices are limited but we’ll fight anyone. Cub, Ortega, Ferguson, Conor… we’re just waiting on the call. Respect to @frankieedgar who truly deserved this fight and wishing him a speedy recovery. #blessedera #ufc218 #represented #Repost @blessedmma ・・・ Injuries are part of this fight game. Frankies the man. Wish him a speedy recovery. Detroit, you guys are a bunch of tough mfers. I met many of you last month when we visited. You guys deserve the best fight card of the year and youre still gonna get it. I’m fighting no matter what. Santa is still coming early to Detroit, so get ready. Malice in the palace part 2 if we have to. I’ll see you soon.

Justin Golightly - November 8, 2017

The big story tonight is Frankie Edgar having to pull out of his fight with Max Holloway. It would have been the third time that Edgar would challenge for the UFC featherweight title, but now the gold has slipped away from his grasp once again. He’ll have to wait and heal up before his fight with Holloway can be re-booked, but until then there are plenty of people ready, willing and able to step in to challenge for that featherweight strap. Unfortunately, all of them already are booked for fights. Although, that doesn’t seem to matter. I’m down. ‍♂️ #ufc218

Justin Golightly - November 8, 2017

We’re still trying to catch our breath from hearing the news. Frankie Edgar finally got another shot at UFC featherweight gold in a super hyped scrap with Max Holloway at UFC 218. Unfortunately, it’s not going to happen. Edgar has to undergo surgery due to an injury to his face and had to pull-out of the contest. He has just issued a statement on his Instagram about the removal from the event and seems to be in good spirits given the circumstances. While the injury hasn’t been specified yet, it looks like it may have something to do with Edgar’s eye in the photo, perhaps an orbital. Hit with a minor setback but should be back to full contact in six weeks or so. Thanks to the @ufc for always having my back. Max I’ll see you down the road. #Believe