Max Holloway Is Chasing All The Records (2024)

“If you want to be the G.O.A.T., you got to beat the G.O.A.T. and beat his records. You got to beat him (and) you got to beat the records. I'm coming for them.”

UFC 308 Embedded | Order UFC 308 Here

With records on the mind, it’s impossible to think about his featherweight title fight with Ilia Topuria without acknowledging the incumbent’s undefeated status. The Spanish-based Georgian made mincemeat of his first seven UFC opponents, including the man who dethroned and defeated Holloway on three occasions in Alexander Volkanovski.

Losses (are) only losses if you don't learn. I learned every single damn time after every one. I just can't wait to go in there and see what he's about. He talks a big game, and on October 26, we get to see how big it is.”

Holloway’s odyssey to another title shot included seven fights, five wins, four Fight of the Night bonuses and two losses to Volkanovski over the course of five years, and he is arguably in the best form of his career. He looked noticeably better in his second trip to lightweight against Gaethje compared with his interim lightweight title shot against Dustin Poirier at UFC 236, a product of having more time to craft his body for 155 pounds. That move does give some people concerns on whether Holloway cutting back down to featherweight will have a negative impact. Holloway naturally downplays that notion, saying his Samoan and Hawaiian heritage meant he didn’t need to add as much muscle as people think and the only downside to returning to featherweight is not eating as much ramen during this fight camp.

“It's tough right now, but we got to somehow keep the hope alive and keep pushing to be great because if we all just give in to it, then nothing's going to ever change.”

How To Watch UFC 308 In Your Region | Main Card At A Special Time: 2pm ET / 11am PT

That chase for greatness brought him to another championship opportunity and another chance to become a two-time featherweight champion. Looking back at his first stint as the king, he acknowledges the fun he had fighting greats like Aldo, Frankie Edgar, Cub Swanson, Anthony Pettis and Charles Oliveira. He also believes the Max back then was “immature,” saying “a lot of dumb stuff.”

Now, he feels older (although, crucially, not old) and wiser. No longer the kid taking out the mainstays, Holloway hopes October 26 continues his run of showing the younger generation of mixed martial artists what it takes to build a career like his.

“That (first) run was amazing, but I’m not here to smell of flowers just yet,” he said. “We got a lot (left). You guys asked me about that last run. Ask me about the second run because it's going to be a fun one.”