Max Holloway: The Fans Are Going to be the Real Winners
It’s hard to believe that just three years ago featherweight Max Holloway was 3-3 in the UFC and possibly close to finding himself out of the promotion.
Since then, however, Holloway has straightened himself out, put together a nine-fight winning streak, and finds himself on the verge of his first UFC championship. Though at times it doesn’t seem like Holloway feels he finds himself in the position he does.
Recently, during a conference call for media leading up to UFC 205 in Toronto, Holloway spoke about his newly elevated interim featherweight title main event bout against Anthony Pettis as business as usual.
“You know, it's just another fight, man,” Holloway said in the conference call. “It is what it is. I thought I was going to get bumped for the main event anyway, do the two extra rounds, but now we get to do two extra rounds and (I could) walk home with a shiny gold belt.
“We're professionals. I'm a professional. I've been getting ready. You got to be ready for opportunities like this all the time, especially lately what the way UFC stuff been happening, all kind of crazy stuff, so we always been ready (for) Dec. 10. I can't wait to show the world what's up.”
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For Holloway, the opportunity to fight someone of Pettis’ stature is more a motivator than being a UFC headliner.
“This guy was a champion before,” said Holloway of Pettis. “He is a former champion. He defended the belt a bunch of times and he was one of the best guys in the world for a while now.
“So I look forward to the opportunity to be in the cage, the same cage you had a guy like that, and it's time to show people that I'm one of those guys. I walk around and I tell myself that I'm the best in the world and come Dec. 10, I get the chance to prove that to the world.”
Knowing what both he and Pettis are capable of, Holloway believes this is one fight that could easily live up to expectations.
“This is a fight that people wanted to see,” Holloway said. “Everything they expect, I think it’s going to happen in this fight and I’m excited for the challenge. This guy has been, he has been the top of the heap for a long time, and I get to go out there and prove my worth and come Dec. 10 the fans are going to be the real winners.
“Now it’s time to go out there and put on a show for the Canadians, and the Toronto fans, and the world. It’s going to be a great night. Tune in Dec. 10 and you guys are going to see some fireworks. It’s going to be an amazing night.”
