Max Holloway

At the age of 19, Holloway had amassed a record of 4-0. He gained recognition as the #7 featherweight prospect of 2012 in Bloody Elbow's 2012 World MMA Scouting Report and has even been compared to former UFC and former WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, due to his ability to incorporate a wide array of flying and spinning kicks, knees and elbows into his striking game.[14]

His early career was highlighted by a split decision win over former Strikeforce[15] and WEC veteran Harris Sarimento on March 12, 2011, earning himself the lightweight strap for the Hawaii-based X-1 promotion.[16]

Holloway was the youngest fighter on the UFC roster when he 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.[17]

In his second fight, Holloway faced Pat Schilling on June 1, 2012, at The Ultimate Fighter 15 Finale.[18] Holloway won via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).[19]

Holloway defeated Justin Lawrence, on August 11, 2012, at UFC 150.[20] Holloway won the fight via TKO in the second round.[21]

Holloway fought Leonard Garcia on December 29, 2012, at UFC 155, replacing an injured Cody McKenzie.[22] Holloway won the close fight via split decision.[23]

Holloway faced Dennis Bermudez on May 25, 2013, at UFC 160.[24][25] He lost the fight controversially via split decision.[26] 11 out of 11 media members scored the fight in favor of Holloway.[27]

Holloway faced Conor McGregor on August 17, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 26.[28] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[29]

Holloway faced promotional newcomer Will Chope on January 4, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 34.[30] Holloway won the fight via TKO in the second round.[31] The win also earned Holloway his first Knockout of the Night bonus.[32]

Holloway faced Andre Fili on April 26, 2014, at UFC 172.[33] He won the back-and-forth fight after submitting Fili in the third round.[34]

Holloway was expected to face Mirsad Bektić on August 23, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 49, replacing an injured Ernest Chavez.[35] However, Bektic pulled out of the bout in the week leading up to the event and was replaced by promotional newcomer Clay Collard.[36] Holloway won the fight via TKO in the third round.

Holloway again served as a replacement and faced Akira Corassani on October 4, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 53, filling in for Chan Sung Jung.[37] He won the fight via knockout in the first round.[38] The win earned Holloway his first Performance of the Night bonus award.[39]

Holloway faced Cole Miller on February 15, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 60.[40] Holloway won via unanimous decision.[41]

Holloway faced Cub Swanson on April 18, 2015, at UFC on Fox 15.[42] Holloway finished the fight with a mounted guillotine in the third round.[43] The win also earned Holloway his second Performance of the Night bonus award.[44]

Holloway faced Charles Oliveira on August 23, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 74.[45] 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.[46] The injury was later described as a micro-tear in his esophagus,[47] although the UFC later released a statement clarifying that Oliveira had no major injuries.[48] With the win, Holloway became the youngest fighter in UFC history to get 10 wins.[49]

Holloway faced Jeremy Stephens on December 12, 2015, at UFC 194.[50] Holloway won the fight via unanimous decision.[51]

Holloway faced Ricardo Lamas on June 4, 2016, at UFC 199.[52] He won via unanimous decision.[53]

Holloway faced Anthony Pettis for the interim UFC Featherweight Championship on December 10, 2016, at UFC 206.[54] 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.[55][56] Holloway won the fight via TKO in the third round and was awarded a Performance of the Night bonus.[57][58]

Holloway faced the featherweight champion José Aldo in a title unification bout on June 3 2017, at UFC 212.[59] 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.[60][61]

On October 4 2017, Holloway revealed that he had signed a new multi-fight deal with UFC.[62] Holloway was expected to face Frankie Edgar on December 2 2017, at UFC 218;[63] however, on November 8 2017, Edgar withdrew from the card due to injury[64] and was replaced by José Aldo.[65] Holloway won the fight via TKO in the third round and retained the UFC Featherweight belt.[66]

The bout with Edgar was rescheduled and was expected to take place on March 3, 2018, at UFC 222.[67] However, it was announced on February 3, 2018 that Holloway had been forced to pull out of the bout due to a leg injury.[68]

Holloway in 2018.

On April 1, 2018, Holloway was announced as a late replacement for the injured Tony Ferguson in a fight for the vacant undisputed UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 223 against Khabib Nurmagomedov to be held on April 7, 2018. If victorious, Holloway would be only the second fighter (behind Conor McGregor) in UFC history to hold titles in two different divisions simultaneously. Holloway, who had no fight scheduled and was not in a training camp, accepted the fight with only six days to prepare. On April 6, as he was due to weigh in, Holloway was pulled from the card by New York State Athletic Commission doctors due to the severity of his short notice weight cut.[69] The bout continued with Al Iaquinta as a last minute replacement for Holloway.[70]

Holloway was then scheduled to defend his UFC Featherweight Championship title on July 7, 2018, at UFC 226 against Brian Ortega.[71] However, on July 4, Holloway was pulled from the fight due to "concussion like symptoms".[72]

For his second title defense, Holloway faced Brian Ortega in the main event at UFC 231 in Toronto, Canada on December 8, 2018.[73] Holloway won the fight via TKO at the end of fourth round by doctor stoppage.[74] This win earned him the Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night awards.[75] 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.[76]

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.[77] He lost the back-and-forth fight by unanimous decision.[78] This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.[79]

Holloway came back down to featherweight, and a bout against former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar was scheduled a third time and eventually took place on July 27, 2019 in the main event of UFC 240.[80] Holloway won the fight by unanimous decision, successfully defending his featherweight title for a third time.[81]

In his fourth title defense, Holloway faced Alexander Volkanovski on December 14, 2019 at UFC 245.[82] He lost the fight via unanimous decision, ending his featherweight reign.[83]

Holloway faced Alexander Volkanovski in a rematch for the UFC Featherweight Championship on July 12 at UFC 251.[84] He lost the fight via split decision.[85] This decision was controversial amongst media outlets[86][87][88] and mixed martial arts personalities such as UFC president Dana White,[89] former referee and creator of the rules system John McCarthy[90][91][92] and multiple mixed martial artists.[93]

Holloway faced Calvin Kattar on January 16, 2021 at UFC on ABC 1.[94] Holloway 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.[95] 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, while 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.[96][97][98] 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.[99] Both fighters earned the Fight of the Night award as Kattar was still fighting back and absorbing the strikes.[100][101]