Max Holloway is down but not out.
Despite a disappointing result in the UFC 326 main event where he spent almost the entire 25-minute fight on the ground after repeated takedowns from Charles Oliveira, the now former “BMF” champion is taking everything in stride. While he holds the record for the most strikes landed in UFC history, Holloway could only muster 26 significant shots against Oliveira, who racked up nearly 21 minutes of control time during their fight.
“[My strategy was] just stick and move
but they came with a better game plan,” Holloway told Joe Rogan after the fight. “You’ve got to give it up for Oliveira guys. A hell of a fighter, a true ‘BMF’ and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The fight served as Holloway’s second appearance in the lightweight division after deciding to make a permanent move to 155 pounds following a long career at featherweight where he was champion in the past. The change in divisions allowed Holloway to add size and muscle to his 5-foot-11-inch frame while also not enduring any more brutal weight cuts to get down to the featherweight limit.
He already held wins over two top ranked lightweights, which included his jaw-dropping knockout over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 as well as engaging in an all-time classic with Dustin Poirier this past July.
The fight against Oliveira served as Holloway’s second defense of the “BMF” title but the bout went sideways in a hurry after the Brazilian just repeatedly took him down and suffocated him on the ground.
While the matchup clearly didn’t go his way, Holloway promised that he’s going to come back better in his next fight and he’s hoping to cross paths with Oliveira again in the future.
“I’m going to come back and whoop somebody’s ass and be right in title contention again,” Holloway shouted. “I ain’t done yet. I’m going to see Mr. Oliveira again. That’s for sure.”
Result aside, Holloway is still one of the most popular and well-liked fighters on the entire UFC roster so it probably won’t take long for him to get booked into another marquee fight when he’s ready to go again.
Add to that, there are still plenty of intriguing matchups available to Holloway at lightweight regardless of his loss to Oliveira at UFC 326.
