Max Holloway “Blessed”

Jerome Max Keli’i Holloway is an American professional mixed martial artist, born December 4, 1991, who competes in the featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

A professional since 2010, Holloway became the UFC Featherweight Champion when he defeated José Aldo on June 3, 2017. Before defending the title three times.

As of March 29, 2021, he is #1 in UFC featherweight rankings and #9 in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings.

UFC Profile – Max Holloway – Latest 9 fights

From Interim to Undisputed:

• Max Holloway vs. Anthony Pettis:

Holloway faced Anthony Pettis for the interim UFC Featherweight Championship on December 10, 2016, at UFC 206.

At the weigh-ins, Pettis came in at 148 lbs., three pounds over the featherweight limit of 145 lbs. for a championship fight. In consequence, in case Pettis were to win the fight with Holloway, he would be ineligible for the UFC championship.

Pettis was also fined 20% of his purse, which went to Holloway and the bout proceeded at a catchweight.

Holloway won the fight via TKO in the third round and was awarded a Performance of the Night bonus.

• Max Holloway vs. Jose Aldo

Holloway faced the featherweight champion, José Aldo, in a title unification bout on June 3, 2017, at UFC 212.

After facing some early adversity, Holloway defeated Aldo via TKO in the third round and earned his first Fight of the Night bonus award for the bout.

First and Second Defenses:

• Max Holloway vs. Jose Aldo 2

Holloway was expected to face Frankie Edgar on December 2, 2017, at UFC 218; however, on November 8, 2017, Edgar withdrew from the card due to injury and was replaced by José Aldo.

Holloway won the fight via TKO in the third round and retained the UFC Featherweight belt.

• Max Holloway vs. Brian Ortega

For his second title defense, Holloway faced Brian Ortega in the main event at UFC 231 in Toronto, Canada on December 8, 2018.

Holloway won the fight via TKO at the of the fourth round by doctor stoppage.

This win earned him the Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night awards.

Holloway broke the record for most significant strikes in one fight with 290, broke the record for landing 134 of those significant strikes in a round, and set the record for most victories in UFC featherweight history with fifteen.

Shot at Double Champ, and Third Defense.

• Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier

Holloway moved up a weight class and faced Dustin Poirier in a rematch for the interim UFC Lightweight Championship on April 13, 2019, at UFC 236.

He lost the back-and-forth fight by unanimous decision. But this fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.

• Max Holloway vs. Frankie Edgar

Holloway came back down to featherweight, and a bout against former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar took place on July 27, 2019, in the main event of UFC 240.

Max Holloway won the fight by unanimous decision, successfully defending his featherweight title for the third time.

End of his reign and latest fight.

• Max Holloway vs. Alexander Volkanovski (1 & 2)

In his fourth title defense, Holloway faced Alexander Volkanovski on December 14, 2019, at UFC 245.

He lost the fight via unanimous decision, ending his featherweight reign.

In his next fight, Holloway faced Alexander Volkanovski in a rematch for the UFC Featherweight Championship on July 12 at UFC 251.

He lost the fight via split decision, but this decision was controversial amongst media outlets, with 18 out of 27 media scores giving it to Holloway.

• Max Holloway vs. Calvin Kattar

Holloway faced Calvin Kattar on January 16, 2021, headlining the UFC on ABC 1 event.

“Blessed” dominated Kattar for all 5 rounds and won by unanimous decision, with two judges scoring the fight 50–43 and one judge scoring it 50–42 in his favor.

During the last two minutes of the fifth round, Holloway landed a two-punch combo and proceeded to stare at the commentary team sitting cage-side and talk to them.

This happened while he was effortlessly dodging Kattar‘s strikes and yelling “I’m the best boxer in the UFC!” to him, which generated talk about an homage to Muhammad Ali, known for his showboating.

Holloway set the UFC single-fight records for total strikes landed and attempted, significant strikes landed and attempted, strike differential, distance strikes landed, significant head strikes landed and significant body strikes landed.

His fourth round also set the record for strikes and significant strikes landed.

Both fighters earned the Fight of the Night award.