ABU DHABI – Max Holloway has heard the rumors since he revealed the limits imposed on his training prior to UFC 251.
“Blessed” openly admitted to ESPN that he did not participate in any bouts during his preparation for this weekend’s event, and that he did not even work with his coaches in person, choices he made to protect everyone’s health and safety during the course. COVID-19 pandemic.
But Holloway wants to clarify one thing: If you think it’s a problem, do it again.
“I know everyone is going crazy,” Holloway told MMA Junkie. “I have been fighting all my life. I have been fighting since I was 16 years old. That’s a lot of time. I did a lot of combat in that time. At the beginning of my career, all I really did was train. This is another fight, at the end of the day. “
Holloway (21-5 MMA, 17-5 UFC) faces Alexander Volkanovski (21-1 MMA, 8-0 UFC) at UFC 251, which takes place on Saturday on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The main card is issued in pay-per-view after the preliminaries on ESPN and ESPN +.
It’s a rematch of the couple’s reunion last December, which Volkanovski won by unanimous decision, removing Holloway’s featherweight title in the process. Holloway still believes he did enough to win that night, but he refuses to make excuses or complain about the result.
“Never leave a fight to the judges; They will make you cry, ”Holloway said. “There are no excuses. I thought I did enough, but it obviously wasn’t. There are three decisions from the boys that matter. They all went the other way.
“When Saturday comes, I can show that I am still one of the best in the world, and I can’t wait. This time, I go there and do my thing, and I hope we don’t need the judges. “
Volkanovksi brings an incredible 18-fight winning streak to the contest and is undefeated through his first eight UFC appearances. Holloway said that he certainly learned a lot in his last 25 minutes in the cage with Volkanovski, but that he’s not assuming anything in the rematch.
He also knows that he shouldn’t put too much action on anything “The Great” says before the contest.
“I am a fighter, and that is what we do,” Holloway said. “It is just a loss if you never learned. I learned a lot, and found a lot about myself that night. But at the end of the day, I don’t know what he is going to do. I really can’t take what he says too seriously.
“The last time, before the fight, he said he was going to take me down and knock me out, and we all know that didn’t happen, so I’m ready for the best version of him.” I can’t wait to get out there and do my thing. ”
Holloway insists that there is no additional pressure to regain his belt, no responsibility to prove anything that may have been questioned with his December setback. With eight years in the UFC and a record that many believe qualifies him as the greatest featherweight of all time, Holloway is giving no further meaning to the fight other than regaining his title.
“Go see the interviews of this type; the guy has a splinter on his shoulder, ”said Holloway. “She’s talking like she’s angry. People still treat me like I’m the champion, you know? I have five belts, five titles at home in my closet. This due can come out and beat me twice. I will still have five titles in my closet. You can’t take that away from me. It is just another fight for me.
“I know I am a champion. I wear as a champion, with a belt or without a belt. People see me as a champion, so I’m going to go out there, fight my fight, fight my life and have fun. ”
In many ways Holloway is absolutely right. Despite being only 28 years old, his legacy is already secure, and he remains one of the UFC’s most popular and beloved. But the proud Hawaiian has certainly not lost his competitive advantage, and he clearly wants to reign over the UFC’s featherweight division once again.
But does Volkanovski, as many suggested after his December battle, simply have Holloway’s number? The former champion certainly doesn’t believe it, and believes that even with a pandemic-stricken training camp under his belt, he’s more than ready to regain his crown.
“I’ve been in the cage with this boy before; I know what it brings to the table, ”said Holloway. “I know a lot about her game. I can’t wait. Going out, this fight, I had to focus on myself, focus on my body, focus on recovery, and I feel great, man.
“It will be a show worth seeing. I guarantee you will see it coming (Saturday). Be sure to tune in, live only on ESPN + pay-per-view. I’ll be there. I will be waiting, and it will be a show, I promise.
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