Max Holloway believes his BMF title fight against Charles Oliveira failed to deliver the type of action fans expected.
Holloway lost the symbolic BMF belt to Oliveira by unanimous decision at UFC 326 in March after the former lightweight champion relied on his trademark grappling to control much of the five-round contest.
The performance sparked criticism from fans who had hoped for a stand-up war similar to Holloway's unforgettable BMF title victory over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300. While Holloway acknowledged the disappointment, he stopped short of blaming Oliveira for fighting the way he did.
Speaking to ESPN ahead of his UFC 329 main event against Conor McGregor next weekend, Holloway defended Oliveira's approach while admitting he could have done more to impose his own style.
“You can't be mad at Charles because he went out there and he just did what he thought he had to do to win, you know what I mean? And that doesn't line up with the belt, but it’s still a fight. So at the end of the day, be mad at me all you want because I should have stopped what I did. I had my opportunities to go in there and fight my fight. I didn’t, you know? He went out there, he fought a different fight.”
Although Holloway accepted responsibility for the outcome, he admitted the fight did not reflect what he believes the BMF title represents.
“In my mind too when I think of BMF, I think of certain fights, you know what I mean? And that wasn't a fight we got. That's just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. That guy's still got to win. It is what it is.”
Holloway also argued that simply winning is often not enough in the UFC, saying fighters must consistently entertain if they want to maximize their opportunities.
“But then to that, it proves a point. In the UFC, you see this all the time. It's not (all about) winning in this sport, you know what I mean? Like, winning is great, winning is awesome, but how many times do we see guys win and they don't get certain opportunities? You've got to win in this sport, but you've got to win the exciting (way), bro. We're in the entertainment business too. So at the end of the day... It is what it is.”
Holloway will look to reclaim the spotlight next Saturday when he faces Conor McGregor in the main event of UFC 329, with the former featherweight champion aiming to hand "The Notorious" a defeat in his long-awaited return to the Octagon.
I can also suggest headlines that emphasize either Holloway's comments on Oliveira's fighting style, the BMF title, or his broader point about entertainment in the UFC.
