[autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] didn’t get his hand raised on Saturday night in Abu Dhabi, but he thinks he did enough to reclaim his title.
Holloway (21-6 MMA, 17-6 UFC) was edged out by featherweight champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] in their co-main event rematch at UFC 251 in a fight that many, including UFC president Dana White, scored in his favor.
Holloway started out strong and took Rounds 1 and 2 on all three judges’ scorecards. The remaining three rounds were all scored for Volkanvoski by two judges, with the third judge giving Holloway Round 5, but the end result was a split-decision win for Volkanovski (22-1 MMA, 9-0 UFC).
It was a close fight, with the champion rallying late to score the win, but Holloway had an interesting comment in his reaction to the loss. He took to Twitter to urge people to lay off the media members who suggested the Hawaiian wasn’t “robbed” by the judges.
Just landed in Vegas for another quarantine and was told some guys in the media are receiving threats for saying my fight was not a robbery. This is not ok. I appreciate everyone who wants to ride for me but that ain't it.
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) July 13, 2020
“Just landed in Vegas for another quarantine and was told some guys in the media are receiving threats for saying my fight was not a robbery. This is not ok. I appreciate everyone who wants to ride for me but that ain’t it.”
Holloway also gave a positive update, claiming that he’s nowhere near done, and expressing his gratitude for being able to compete during the unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Life isn't fair. It's even more unfair for many many other people in the world than it will ever be for me. People are unemployed right now with no end in sight and it's not their fault.
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) July 13, 2020
“Life isn’t fair. It’s even more unfair for many many other people in the world than it will ever be for me. People are unemployed right now with no end in sight and it’s not their fault.”
It is what it was. Nothing changed for me as a fighter. We proved our point. I still have my five belts at home. I'm 28 and healthy. Blessed era continues. Bless yourself 🤙🏻
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) July 13, 2020
“It is what it was. Nothing changed for me as a fighter. We proved our point. I still have my five belts at home. I’m 28 and healthy. Blessed era continues. Bless yourself
“
Holloway has suffered back-to-back losses for the first time in almost seven years. He is no stranger to adversity, though, and turned his form around in remarkable fashion after back-to-back defeats to Dennis Bermudez and Conor McGregor in 2013. Holloway bounced back in style by winning 13 fights in a row as he captured the UFC featherweight title.
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