Max Holloway didn't turn professional until a few months after UFC 100. When UFC 200 came around, Holloway was 24 and had already established himself as a star in the UFC. But though he'd won six in a row since a 2013 loss to Conor McGregor, he didn't get a spot on the prestigious UFC 200 card, either.
He wasn't about to let that happen again.
Holloway is now a veteran at 32 and has a resume that stacks up favorably with anyone's in UFC history. He's held the UFC featherweight championship, he's fought a who's who of the best 145-pounders and 155-pounders in the world and with the end of his career a lot closer now than the beginning, he was going to do whatever it took to find his way onto UFC 300.
Last week, UFC CEO Dana White announced that Holloway would face BMF champion Justin Gaethje for the belt, making it the most prominent bout on the card to this point.
Holloway get that process rolling in October when he tweeted to Gaethje.
If you change your mind bratha, how about one for the fans? #BMF 🙌🏻 @Justin_Gaethje https://t.co/d4KjwBdTHz
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) October 26, 2023
"Being on the top of the UFC 300 card is huge," Holloway told KevinIole.com. "I've been with the company forever and I really wanted to be on this card. I'm also super excited that we got Justin and the BMF belt for it."
Holloway made his pro debut as a lightweight when he was a few months shy of his 19th birthday. He was in the UFC less than two years later and debuted against Dustin Poirier at UFC 143.
He's been a staple of the UFC ever since, and he's done nothing but sought out the best. His list of opponents includes:
• Three fights against No. 3 pound-for-pound and featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski
• Two fights against each of Poirier and Jose Aldo.
• Single bouts against Anthony Pettis, Conor McGregor, Charles Oliveira, Brian Ortega, Frankie Edgar, Ricardo Lamas, Yair Rodriguez, Calvin Kattar, Arnold Allen, The Korean Zombie, Cub Swanson, Andre Fili and Jeremy Stephens, among others.
Holloway's name is littered throughout the UFC's record book. He's the all-time leader in significant strikes landed, with 3,197. Amazingly, he's more than 1,000 ahead of No. 2 on the list, Angela Hill, who has 1,896. He's also first in total strikes landed, at 3,441, nearly a thousand ahead of runner-up Georges St-Pierre. He's seventh all-time with 21 wins and tied for sixth with 10 wins by KO. His 13-fight winning streak is tied for third all-time and he's tied for 10th all-time with 11 post-fight bonuses.
Despite all that, he's a big underdog against Gaethje. At the DraftKings sports book, Gaethje is -225 to win, while Holloway is +185.
Holloway isn't all that concerned. He expects an exciting fight, but that's like saying the sky is blue and the grass is green. They're arguably the two most exciting fighters in the sport, so of course it's going to be an exciting bout.
"I think our styles complement each other," Holloway said. "His nickname is 'The Highlight' and it's going to be a fun one, you know? I've had several [memorable] moments in the UFC and I think we're on the cusp of seeing another moment with this fight."
A big reason why Gaethje is the favorite is because he's a naturally bigger fighter and he's one of the most powerful strikers in the game. He's coming off an impressive head kick KO victory over Poirier that enabled him to claim the BMF title.
Holloway, who set UFC records in a fight on Jan. 16, 2021, with Calvin Kattar for striking differential (312); significant strikes landed (445); significant strikes attempted (744); distance strikes landed (439), significant body strikes landed (117) and significant head strikes landed (274), doesn't seem all that concerned.
"We almost fight pretty similar, but the only difference I guess from what people are saying is the power," Holloway said. "The power at [155 pounds], how hard he hits, how hard he kicks. There are a few different things I have to figure out. I get to see how hard this guy really punches and how hard he hits come April 13 when we get in there. If we have to make adjustments, I'll make adjustments."
The bout has invigorated him and he said a win over someone the likes of Gaethje can open a lot of doors and present him with options.
It's clear listening to him that he'd like another shot at the featherweight title, if he can get one, but it's tough given that he has already lost three times to Volkanovski. If Volankovski loses to Ilia Topuria at UFC 298 on Feb. 17 in Anaheim, Calif., then he might get another shot.
That's all in the future. He wanted to fight his way onto UFC 300 and he did it, much to the delight of fight fans everywhere.
"This is a card I really wanted to be a part of because I know I'm not going to be around for 400," Holloway said. "And if I am, please tell me to retire."