Max Holloway (26-7) is an organization in the middle of mixed martial arts and wants to continue his legend on October 26, the day he will try to capture the featherweight title. Ilia Topuria (15-0) and is, once again, the UFC world champion.
Although he was one of the most popular fighters of the last decade, his story is far from an easy path to fame. Born on December 4, 1991 Waianae, Hawaii, A neighborhood plagued by poverty and violence, Holloway struggled with adversity from an early age. His mental strength and determination have been instrumental in placing himself on the MMA Olympus.
No father and drug problem
Growing up in a family broken by drug addiction, His father left him when he was 11 and his mother, who had to take care of her son alone and had been abused in the past, was struggling with alcoholism. These conditions forced the youngest in the house to mature quickly and look for a way to escape that would prevent him from having an uncertain future. The sport of martial arts was his escape and a means of self-discovery and personal transformation.
Max Holloway and other members of his family, including his mother and son / MAX HOLLOWAY/TWITTER
Throughout his career, he has said several times that his experiences with his father in his absence inspired him to become a father who is fully devoted to his own son, Running. Max has spoken passionately about his desire to be like the father he never had, making sure your child has your constant support, guidance and unconditional love.
This is how at the age of 15 he entered the world of martial arts. Inspired by Hawaii’s rich fighting culture (Waianae is known for bare-knuckle fighting) and local legends such as. BJ Penn, Holloway dedicated himself to training in Muay Thai and Kickboxing from a young age. His natural talent was immediately apparent, and he made his first match… 3 days after his first kickboxing lessons! There is a reason why he is known as ‘The Blessed One’. In any case, he is 19 years old and after transitioning to MMA, he has amassed a 4-0 record within the Bloody Elbow promotion.
The UFC is knocking on the door
With an aggressive and clear fighting style, he attracted the attention of professional athletes, which led to his debut in the UFC in 2012. He debuted in 2012 as a replacement for Ricardo Lamas at UFC 143 and had three wins in his first six fights.falling to names such as Dustin Poirer (first) or Conor McGregor at featherweight, the latter by unanimous decision in August 2013, but from there his rise in the group began.
In 2012, he competed in the biggest MMA tournament in the world. / AGENTS
Holloway won 9 in a row and became the youngest in history to win 10. With each fight, he developed his fight style based on relentless cardio, high-impact punches and devastating hand power. His name, “Blessed” (Blessed), it seemed very fitting for a warrior who not only survived the storm, but knew it well.
Go get the gold
4 consecutive finishes (Will Chope, slept Collard, Corassani and Cole Miller) with two night performances he raised his rank within 145 pounds and, after finishing with Ricardo Lamas At UFC 199, he got the chance to fight them Anthony Pettis in the interim title, exactly the player everyone compared to Max when the latter joined the promoters.
Max Holloway, in his time as the 145 pound king / AGENCIES
Max finished Pettis – who missed the weight – via technical KO on June 3, 2017, and later disproved the legend. Jose Aldo for the unified title of featherweight, defeating him in the third round of UFC 212. Both put the belt 4 times, all successfully: between the defense between Brian Ortega (who left almost without an eye) and Frankie Edgar He was with them. his rematch with Poirer for the lightweight championship at UFC 236. He lost again, this time on points.
On December 15, 2019, another Alexander Volkanovski took the 145-pound belt from Holloway, the Australian fighter who ended up climbing the division last time. Max, who defeats him two more times in the classic trilogy. The Hawaiian was unable to take back ‘The Great’, who managed to establish hegemony in the featherweight category for more than 4 years.
An everlasting legacy
Now, at the age of 32, Holloway, who holds the BMF title after defeating Gaethje in April, is looking to regain dominance in the division he once held. To do this he must defeat the biggest rising star in the UFC.Ilia Topuria, destined for greatness and undefeated in his technical history. Holloway is not only fighting for himself, but also for his son, Rush, who he considers to be his ultimate goal. In a series of interviews, Max shared his thoughts on “Bend, but never break” (“Dóblate, pero neverca te rompas”), qIt shows how he faced the challenges of his life without allowing himself to be defeated. Growing up in a place characterized by poverty, alcoholism and lack of opportunity, and reaching the top of the game, is a testament to his character, courage and work.
