Max Holloway drawing inspiration from Toronto Raptors ahead of UFC 240

It’s no secret that UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway is a Toronto Raptors fan. The Hawaiian predicted the Raps would beat the Milwaukee Bucks in 6, and as he revealed in a chat with James Lynch of The Score, is now predicting the team will beat the Golden State Warriors by the same margin in the NBA finals.

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“6 games again,” he said. “Why not beat them in Golden State? We take the first two, we might take one away, they might take one [in Toronto]. Then we win the sixth one there. That’s the plan.”

Max Holloway also added that he’s drawing some inspiration from the Toronto Raptors — particularly from Kawhi Leonard — as he gears up for his UFC 240 fight with Frankie Edgar, scheduled for July 27 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

“[Kawhi Leonard] said one of the most awesomest things I’ve ever heard,” Holloway said. “People asked him ‘do you think you’re the best player in the NBA right now,’ he said ‘I don’t care, I want to be the best team.’ That’s what I believe. Everybody sees me fighting, I’m one guy, and I win the belt, but they don’t see the team that’s behind me. I’ve got so many guys that sacrifice so much for me — my coaches, my training partners, my own family, my son. They all sacrifice a lot for me, and it’s a team thing. When I heard that, it’s very inspiring. Not only his on-court stuff is inspiring, but his off-court stuff is inspiring too.”

The Toronto Raptors won the first battle of the NBA finals, defeating the Golden State Warriors 118-109 on Thursday night.

Max Holloway, on the other hand, last competed at UFC 236 in April, when he lost a hard fought decision to Dustin Poirier in an interim lightweight title fight. This loss ended a 13-fight unbeaten streak for the Hawaiian.

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 5/31/2019.