Max Holloway is indifferent about the venue for UFC 300, recognizing that the entire world will be tuned in to witness his clash with Justin Gaethje.
As the UFC continues its quest for a headline bout for the monumental event on April 13, Holloway is gearing up for a five-round showdown with Juatin Gaethje for the coveted “BMF” title. While the only other confirmed title fight is the strawweight matchup between Zhang Weili and Yan Xiaonan, additional title fights are expected to be announced.
In his interview with MMA Fighting Holloway said:
“We’re fighting five rounds. “I’m fighting him five rounds already. I really don’t care where we are on the card. If we got to main event a big card like 300, it’d be super dope. But at the end of the day, I’m not stressing it too much. A fight is a fight. I don’t care where they put us on the card. As long as I got to be on the card, I was happy. Having an opponent like Justin Gaethje, even more happy, more stoked. At the end of the day, I just can’t wait. If it’s the main event slot, it’s the main event slot. If not, it is what it is. We’ll be on that card and I’m just stoked to be a part of it.”
Both fan favorites have collectively earned 13 Fight of the Night awards and a remarkable 23 post-fight bonuses. Holloway boasts records like the most significant strikes landed in UFC history and the most finishes in the featherweight division. Gaethje, known for his all-action style, has received multiple Fight of the Year awards and holds an impressive finishing rate of 20 knockouts in 25 career wins.
“Whenever myself or Gaethje’s on the card, I think most of the time it’s the people’s main event. “They know what they get. When you see us on the card, you know what you’re going to get. You’re going to get the bang for your buck. With everybody being booked at our different weight classes, it only made sense to have a ‘BMF’ fight and be here and putting us on a huge card. I’m excited to share the octagon with a guy like Gaethje. He’s definitely going to be a Hall of Famer. It’s what BMF’s do. They take fights, they fight each other, and they show the world what’s up.”
The upcoming bout marks Holloway’s return to the lightweight division, his first appearance since a loss to Dustin Poirier in a 2019 interim title fight.
“I think my eating habits are better. My training is better. That was like four years ago, I believe I’m stronger, I believe I’m smarter. I’ve just got a lot of things going checked in than what I had. No excuses for that last fight, I hate making excuses, but I was just an overweight ‘45er, you might say, in that one. This one, it’s going to be different. I don’t want to talk too much about it but it’s going to be different. You guys are going to see on April 13 why it’s going to be different.”
As he readies himself for the Gaethje fight at 155 pounds, Holloway refrains from making excuses for his past loss, approaching the situation differently this time.
“A lot of people like talking about that fight, and this and that, and because of what Gaethje did in his last fight. The beautiful thing is we get to find out April 13. I can’t wait. I can’t wait to show the world what we’ve been working on. I can’t wait to show people what we’ve been working on.”
A triumph over Gaethje positions Holloway strategically for his next move. He could contemplate a return to featherweight for another title shot or opt to remain in the lightweight division.
Regardless of the path he chooses, Holloway values the freedom a victory at UFC 300 will afford him in shaping his future.
“It’s options. At the end of the day, it’s just having options. Being able to go to ‘45 is easy. Going up to ‘55 is easy. I just can’t wait to go out there and show out.”
