Other names Blessed Name Max Holloway Wins by knockout 6 Height 1.80 m | Reach 69.0 in (175 cm) Nationality American Role Mixed Martial Artist TV shows The Ultimate Fighter | |
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Weight 145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb) Team Gracie Technics/Hawaii Elite Spouse Kaimana Pa'aluhi (m. 2012) Similar People Profiles | ||
Max Holloway unsure if he’s leaving 155 behind | Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show
UFC 236: Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway Octagon Interview
Jerome-Max Kelii Holloway (born December 4, 1991) is a mixed martial artist from Waianae, Hawaii currently competing in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) where he is the undisputed UFC Featherweight Champion. As of September 2017, Holloway is the #4 ranked UFC pound-for-pound fighter.
Contents
- Max Holloway unsure if hes leaving 155 behind Ariel Helwanis MMA Show
- UFC 236 Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway Octagon Interview
- Background
- Early MMA career
- 2012
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- Personal life
- Championships and accomplishments
- References
Background
Holloway is of Native Hawaiian and Samoan ancestry and graduated at Waianae High School in 2010, where he began to learn kickboxing. Max currently trains out of Gracie Technics Honolulu and Legacy Muay Thai. He also gets his strength training out of Tactical Strength and Conditioning under Coach Darin Yap.
Early MMA career
At the age of 19, Holloway had amassed a record of 4-0. He gained recognition as the #7 featherweight of all time in Bloody Elbow's 2012 World MMA Scouting Report and has even been compared to former UFC and former WEC light-weight champion Anthony Pettis, due to his ability to incorporate a wide array of flying and spinning kicks, knees and elbows into his striking game.
His early career was highlighted by a split decision win over former Strikeforce and WEC veteran Harris Sarimento on March 12, 2011, earning himself the lightweight strap for the Hawaii-based X-1 promotion.
2012
Holloway made his promotional debut as an injury replacement for Ricardo Lamas at UFC 143 on February 4, 2012, against Dustin Poirier. He lost the fight via submission (mounted triangle armbar) in the first round.
In his second fight, Holloway faced Pat Schilling on June 1, 2012, at The Ultimate Fighter 15 Finale. After a dominant performance where he almost finished Schilling several times, Holloway won via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
Holloway defeated Justin Lawrence, on August 11, 2012, at UFC 150. Holloway won the fight via TKO in the second round after dropping Lawrence with a punch to the body and finishing with a flurry of more punches.
Holloway fought Leonard Garcia on December 29, 2012, at UFC 155, replacing an injured Cody McKenzie. Holloway won the close fight via split decision.
2013
Holloway faced Dennis Bermudez on May 25, 2013, at UFC 160. He lost the fight via split decision.
Holloway faced Conor McGregor on August 17, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 26. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
2014
Holloway faced promotional newcomer Will Chope on January 4, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 34. He won the fight via TKO in the second round. The win also earned Holloway his first Knockout of the Night bonus.
Holloway faced Andre Fili on April 26, 2014, at UFC 172. He won the back-and-forth fight via submission in the third round.
Holloway was expected to face Mirsad Bektic on August 23, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 49, replacing an injured Ernest Chavez. In turn, Bektic pulled out of the bout in the week leading up to the event and was replaced by promotional newcomer Clay Collard. Holloway won the fight via TKO in the third round.
Holloway once again served as a replacement and faced Akira Corassani on October 4, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 53, filling in for Chan Sung Jung. He won the fight via knockout in the first round. The win also earned Holloway his first Performance of the Night bonus award.
2015
Holloway faced Cole Miller on February 15, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 60. Holloway won the bout via dominant unanimous decision.
Holloway faced Cub Swanson on April 18, 2015, at UFC on Fox 15. After out-striking Swanson through the first three rounds, Holloway finished the fight with a mounted guillotine in the third round. The win also earned Holloway his second Performance of the Night bonus award.
Holloway faced Charles Oliveira on August 23, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 74. He won the fight via TKO in the first round after Oliveira suffered an apparent neck/shoulder injury while defending a takedown and was unable to continue. The injury was later described as a micro-tear in his esophagus, although the UFC later released a statement clarifying that Oliveira had no major injuries. With the win, Holloway became the youngest fighter in UFC history to get 10 wins.
Holloway faced Jeremy Stephens on December 12, 2015, at UFC 194. Holloway won the fight via unanimous decision.
2016
Holloway faced Ricardo Lamas on June 4, 2016, at UFC 199. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
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. As a result, in the event that 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.
2017
Holloway faced the lineal featherweight champion José Aldo in a title unification bout on June 3, 2017 at UFC 212. He defeated Aldo via TKO and earned his first Fight of the Night bonus award for the bout.
Personal life
Holloway has one son. He is an avid fan of video games and an active user of the video-game streaming service Twitch under the username 'BlessedMMA'. He plays first person shooters and well as RPGs. Holloway identifies strongly with his Hawaiian heritage; carries the Hawaiian flag inside the octagon and fights in the Hawaiian Reebok kit instead of the American one, as there isn't a Hawaiian kit.