When Max Holloway meets UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski for a third time this Saturday at UFC 276, it’ll be a special occasion in more ways than one.
Holloway will not only become the first UFC fighter to challenge for a belt in a trilogy where he’s already down 0-2, UFC 276’s co-main event also will mark one of the rare instances of top pound-for-pound fighters colliding with such momentous stakes. Holloway currently holds the No. 1 ranking in MMA Fighting. 6 ranked fighter in the world, while Volkanovski is sitting at No. 3.
“If you look at it this way, it’s crazy. When in the last decade did this fight happen, where two top guys in the top 10 pound-for-pound rankings happen?” Holloway said Monday on The MMA Hour. “How many times did it happen? It’s only ‘DC [Daniel Cormier] or [Jon] Jones that comes to my mind. Those are the only men. And we’re here now, and this fight, these things don’t happen. And these are the things that excite me. This is our chance to share in that rich history. And to you guys, to all the hardcore fans, this is what they want.
“They want the best of the best fighting each other — and they are. The top fighters pound for pound don’t fight one another. It’s impossible. This doesn’t happen. This happens only once in a decade. We’re blessed to have one now .”
Holloway fought Volkanovski twice before with the UFC featherweight title on the line. They first met in 2019, then in 2020.. Volkanovski dominated Holloway in their initial outing at UFC 245 to steal away Holloway’s 145-pound title. The immediate rematch at UFC 251 was a much closer affair, but ultimately Volkanovski edged out a controversial split decision to continue his championship reign.
Since then both men have won two fights. Holloway took out Calvin Kattar and Yair Rodriguez to earn his way back to a third shot, while Volkanovski dispatched Brian Ortega and Chan Sung Jung to cement his claim as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the sport.
” We’re here because of a reason,” Holloway stated. We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t already. It’s so exciting that I cannot wait. I can’t wait to go show. A lot of history on the line, a lot of legacy on the line, 0-0 Max is going in there looking for a finish. So I can’t wait.
” I’ll fight the fight like every other fight, just as I did with all of my previous fights — it’s like my first fight and maybe my last. So I’ve been in there 10 rounds with the guy. I feel good, I feel confident, and I’ve been saying we’ll be lucky if we get past three in this one.”
It’s a high-stakes crossroads for Holloway.
The 30-year-old former champion is widely recognized as one of the greatest featherweights in the sport’s history, however falling into an 0-3 hole in the trilogy would effectively end his chances at ever reclaiming the belt as long as Volkanovski is UFC champion.
Holloway knows his legacy is already secure as one of the greats of the era, but that doesn’t mean he’s content with what he already accomplished.
“At the end of the day, I always told myself the belt doesn’t define you,” Holloway said. “I’m a champion. I’ve been telling everybody that. Since the day I got in to UFC, I have been a champion. This is how you have to conduct yourself. If you don’t carry yourself that way, then why are you fighting? Are you fighting to be the second best in the world? That makes no sense.
“I keep saying to myself, “I’m the champion and the best.” We can discuss it in the octagon .”
if you don’t agree.
There’s an additional caveat too, at least in regards to what a win could mean for the futures of both men. Volkanovski already stated that he would like to be 155 a heavier fighter and compete for two-division glory and the lightweight belt. UFC President Dana White expressed his openness to this idea in recent months.
Could the same opportunity be on the table for Holloway if he wins at UFC 276?
” We’ll see what happens, Holloway stated. “Never say never, right? There’s interesting fights up there, especially with [Charles] Oliveira leading the pack and stuff. We’ll watch and see what happens. It’s exciting. First things first, it’s Alex, July 2. Let’s bring back balance to the world.”
