Max Holloway is expecting a war of attrition when he meets Justin Gaethje in the octagon at UFC 300.
The contest between two of the best strikers in the promotion instantly caught fans’ imagination when it was announced for the epic card, that will go down at the T Mobile Arena on April 13.
The BMF title bout in undoubtedly the people’s main event heading into the blockbuster card, with fans speculating as to how the bout will play out. The general consensus appears to be that no matter who has their hand raised, the fight will be one for the ages.
Whilst talking to the media in his pre-fight media day interview, Holloway was asked about his thoughts on some fans believing Gaethje hits too hard for the Hawaiian. With a smile on his face, the 32-year-old said he was looking forward to finding out.
“We find out. We find out, you know, it's a beautiful thing. Every time I do any of these interviews, go watch it all fight week. Every time they ask me ‘What is the main thing? When you come to think of Justin, what do you think of this fight?’ I think of violence and this happens. I smile. You know, I smile. This is what real fighters are about, Justin is a BMF. The beautiful thing is everybody has questions and that we have the answers come UFC 300 on Saturday night.”
The last time Hollway made the move to Lightweight was against Dustin Poirier for the interim Lightweight strap at UFC 236. Although the result did not go his way, it was an opportunity Holloway couldn’t turn down and this time, ‘Blessed’ and his team have worked to ensure it is the optimum Holloway enters The Octagon on Saturday night-even with some friendly jibing from his team!
“I mean, it is what it is. I talked about this earlier today, I hate talking about it, but you know that Dustin fight was it is what it is.
“You know, my manager is calling me Muffin Top Max this whole camp. And I said at the end of the day, that's what it was. You know, for this fight we wanted to put on the right weight. We wanted to be smart, we wanted to be strong, but we still wanted to be fast.
“So I think we found a very even ground and you guys get to see come Saturday night.”
Standing opposite him on Saturday night is yet another top contender at 155lbs. The bout will mark Gaethje’s first defence of the BMF after claiming the title in emphatic style against Dustin Poirier at UFC 291. Discussing his thoughts on ‘The Highlight’, Holloway made it clear that you can’t deny the toughness and grit Gaethje possesses and the excitement of getting to go into battle with another highly skilled competitor greatly excites him.
“Look, a true BMF is a guy who's willing to fight and go in there like gladiator days you know I said I'm a gladiator, he said he’s a gladiator, he would fight to the death, you know, in the Colosseum.
“So the beautiful thing is we get to find out, man. We get to find out attrition is going to be a big thing in this sport. I believe in this fight with him and we get to find out. I mean how are you going to disagree with the guy 12 fights in the UFC 12 bonuses by way that speaks for itself.
“So the beautiful thing is we get to find out, man. We get to find out attrition is going to be a big thing in this sport. I believe in this fight with him and we get to find out come UFC 300, on a big event like this when you got a card like this the spotlight like this on us are being the people main event already. Every time I see an ad on UFC for UFC 300 its me and Justin."
There is clearly a lot of respect between the two and Holloway acknowledged this, saying that although for 5 rounds they will both be looking for any which way to win, at the final bell, the two can go back to being how they were prior, in no time.
“I mean, it's cool. You know, it's cool. I don't want to put the man out cold either but it's the fight game. That's what we love. You know, like I said, for 25 minutes, I'm going there. He's going to come from my neck. I'm going to come for his neck and, you know, after we can hug it out, you know, go get a beer.
I mean, I don't drink beer. He can get his beer. Maybe I get a shot with him and, you know, we get a pizza or something.”
You can watch Holloway’s full media day interview, below:
Max Holloway is expecting a war of attrition when he meets Justin Gaethje in the octagon at UFC 300.
