Tag: Max Holloway

Kamaru Usman: Max Holloway’s eye pokes on Justin Gaethje could’ve altered UFC 300 outcome

Kamaru Usman says the potential impact of Max Holloway’s eye pokes on Justin Gaethje can’t be ignored.

[autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] says the potential impact of [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag]’s eye pokes on [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] can’t be ignored.

Usman’s teammate and good friend, Gaethje (25-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) was mostly dominated and on the receiving end of a last-second knockout in his BMF title fight against Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) this past Saturday at UFC 300.

Holloway landed a spinning back kick at the end of Round 1, which busted Gaethje’s nose. He also inadvertently poked Gaethje twice in the eye, which Usman said had to have negatively impacted him.

“We can’t shy away from the fact that this man took the kick to the nose,” Usman said on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo. “Was it the end of the first round, just seconds left or if not zero time left, took that kick to the nose, which plays a huge, huge part in potentially moving on in the fight because now you can’t breathe the way you want to breathe in that fight.

“And on top of that, we have to see the two eye pokes. I mean, they were clear-cut legit eye pokes, and it wasn’t that Max was doing it maliciously or on purpose. They happened, and these are the type of things that can alter the outcome of a fight.”

Gaethje was down three rounds to one on two of the three judges’ scorecards. Usman thinks he should have mixed in some wrestling to throw Holloway’s rhythm off.

“I think the place where things kind of might have went sideways is making the necessary adjustments in the fight,” Usman said. “I think Justin is such a freaking good guy, which is why he is your favorite fighter’s favorite fighter. He loves to entertain so much to where it’s, ‘OK, you paid to see this type of fight; I’m going to give you that type of fight.’

“He’s that type of guy and to where I thought he could have made some adjustments. He is a wrestler. This fight is completely different had Justin changed levels and took Max down once or twice, and he can do it. He can 100 percent do it.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Ilia Topuria touts feather in cap over Max Holloway after UFC 300 knockout

Featherweight champion Ilia Topuria had some choice words for Max Holloway after UFC 300.

Featherweight champion [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] sent [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] a warning after UFC 300.

Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) claimed the BMF title with an iconic last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje (25-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) was in attendance and looked stunned after Holloway delivered the spectacular finish. However, he welcomes “Blessed” as his next title challenger.

“To be honest, I’m really happy because we just saw Holloway win, so I just realized I will have two belts instead of one,” Topuria told ESPN Deportes. “I think it’s clear now. We have the next fight. It will be against Max Holloway. … Let’s see. Nothing concrete, but there was a big chance that if he walked out victorious of the octagon he could be next. I’m not sure if he is hurt. I hope not so he can come back soon, and we can have a fight.”

Unlike most, Topuria wasn’t that impressed with Holloway’s finish.

“Well, it was good, nothing special to be honest,” Topuria said. “The ending was only an exchange of the punches without any strategy, both just throwing punches. Zero defense, hands down, and those kinds of things can happen, but that is something that would never happen with me.”

Topuria also made sure to remind Holloway that while he needed less than two rounds to dethrone Alexander Volkanovski, Holloway couldn’t beat him on three attempts.

“(Max) was talking a lot during the week,” Topuria continued. “It’s normal. It is what he has to do. He needs to believe he is the best. There is no other way in this sport, but the results are clear. I did in nine minutes (to Alexander Volkanovski) what he was not able to do in 90 minutes. So, he can say whatever he wants, enjoy now, and get ready for what’s coming. He can do whatever he wants. He won’t be able to change that. He is a really easy fight.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Video: UFC 300 corner cam shows Max Holloway’s coaches lose their minds watching epic knockout

The reaction footage from Max Holloway’s insane knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 continue to pour in, this time from his corner.

The reaction footage from [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag]’s insane knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 continues to pour in, and this time it’s from the corner of the BMF champion.

Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) posted to social media Tuesday openly asking why the UFC didn’t include the shot of his corner celebrating on the UFC 300 broadcast after he scored a remarkable knockout of Gaethje with just one second remaining in the final round at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Just a few hours later, Holloway obtained the raw footage and shared it for the world, and it’s as awesome as you’d expect.

Holloway comes from a largely unheralded team in Hawaii. His coaches rarely speak to the media and just quietly work on helping “Blessed” improve as a fighter. Coaches Michael Nakagawa, Jordan Rita and Darin Yap got to see the fruits of their labor pay off on the biggest stage, watching Holloway score what Joe Rogan called the “great knockout of all time.”

Check out the footage of the corner celebration below (via X):

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C51JrFLPK2P/?igsh=MTQ1c2RtOXM4dTJ1dA

Hollowaym, 32, praised his corner on the caption of the post and was thankful for the support of his team in such a memorable moment.

“It takes a village,” Holloway said. “… they make some of the biggest sacrifices for me. A debt I’ll never be able to repay.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Joe Rogan calls Max Holloway’s UFC 300 finish of Justin Gaethje ‘the greatest knockout of all time’

Joe Rogan has witnessed a lot in his time as a UFC commentator, but no knockout tops what Max Holloway did to Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.

[autotag]Joe Rogan[/autotag] has witnessed a lot of great things happen in the octagon during his long tenure as UFC commentator. But for him, no knockout tops what [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] did to Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.

Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) claimed the BMF title in the most spectacular way possible this past Saturday when he knocked Gaethje (25-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) out cold with one second remaining in Round 5 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Despite being moments away from a unanimous decision victory on the scorecards, Holloway opted to point to the middle of the cage as the clock winded down for a brawl with Gaethje, who obliged before getting caught with a flush right hand that immediately slumped him.

It was a mind-boggling moment, and Rogan said on the UFC 300 broadcast that it was the single greatest knockout he’d ever seen when taking the entire scope of it into account.

“That’s the greatest knockout of all time,” Rogan said. “With so many people counting him out, with so many people thinking he was outgunned, with so many people thinking he wouldn’t have a chance against the firepower of Justin Gaethje, the fact that he called for that with 10 seconds left in the fight and put the lights out on one of the most dangerous men to ever fight in the sport.

“The fact that he did it this way, too, that he pointed to the center of the octagon, pointed to the floor and said, ‘Let’s thrown down right here’ and then sleeps Justin Gaethje with one punch. In a fight where a lot of people thought he was gonna get outgunned. Where a lot of people thought he was going to get hurt.”

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Holloway, a former longtime UFC featherweight champion, moved up to lightweight for the BMF title matchup with Gaethje. “Blessed” hadn’t fought in the division in exactly five years, and he lost his first appearance to Dustin Poirier at UFC 236 in April 2019.

The Hawaiian was given more time to prepare for UFC 300 than he did the Poirier fight, and it paid off. Holloway looked strong and fast inside the octagon in a brilliant performance that was capped off with a legendary highlight that earned him $600,000 in bonus money.

Rogan said he would’ve been very impressed with Holloway if that knockout had never happened and he won on the scorecards. He capped off the strong performance with an unforgettable moment, though, and Rogan said that only enhances Holloway’s legacy.

“He looked so good,” Rogan said. “But it’s all about giving Max the time to prepare for lightweight. He looked thicker, he looked denser, he put muscle on, and he prepared for a terrifying fighter. And he knew what he was going in against, and that’s what a guy like Max Holloway needs with all these years in the game. We’ve got to remember: Max Holloway is 32, but he was in here at 20 years old. And he needs something like that for us to see how great he truly is.

“Listen, Max Holloway is one of the greatest, if not the greatest featherweight of all time. And what you saw is that he’s one of the greatest fighters of all time, period. And he’s still 32. He’s in his prime right now. I think a lot of people forgot that. Those (Alexander) Volkanovski losses, I think a lot people said, ‘Ah, he’s done.’ But no, he’s better than ever. And he looked sensational.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Video shows Max Holloway’s phone call with Justin Gaethje, more backstage aftermath of UFC 300 knockout

Max Holloway’s iconic knockout of Justin Gaethje made him the man of the hour immediately after UFC 300.

Could you imagine what [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] experienced in the immediate aftermath of one of the most legendary knockouts in UFC history?

Well, you don’t have to.

Holloway, the former UFC featherweight champion and newly crowned BMF champion, scored an incredible knockout of Justin Gaethje in the fifth round of their lightweight encounter this past Saturday at UFC 300 in Las Vegas. It was an all-time badass moment as Holloway, in a fight he was comfortably winning, invited Gaethje to the center of the cage so they could throw down in the final 10 seconds. That’s when Holloway connected on a devastating overhand right that sent Gaethje’s limp body crashing to the canvas.

Afterward, Holloway had his own camera person follow him around backstage at T-Mobile Arena to capture moments behind the scenes, including an emotional phone conversation with his father, Dana White passing the phone to him to speak with Gaethje from the hospital, a ton of congratulations from fellow UFC fighters and celebrities in attendance, and more.

Check out the video from Holloway’s YouTube channel above.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

UFC 300 video shows Marc Goddard downright in disbelief as Max Holloway knocked out Justin Gaethje

Marc Goddard was all of us as one of the most iconic knockouts in UFC history happened right before his eyes.

Marc Goddard had the same reaction we all did when [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] knocked out [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] – even while refereeing the fight.

Goddard was tasked as the third man in the cage for the BMF title fight between Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) and Gaethje (25-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC), which took place Saturday at UFC 300 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Holloway was in firm control of the fight until he decided to risk it all in the final 10 seconds when he pointed to the middle of the octagon and invited Gaethje to throw down. The pair got into some wild exchanges until Holloway knocked Gaethje out cold with just one second remaining.

Everyone in the arena lost their minds, and Goddard couldn’t help himself either. He wished everyone got to see his reaction, and the UFC granted that wish. Check out Goddard’s reaction below!

Goddard also had this to say about Holloway’s iconic moment.

“I’m still speechless. Still have goosebumps. Both of these guys are the epitome of our sport. Sheer class. What a privilege.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Video: Should Max Holloway go back to 145 or stay at 155 after BMF title win?

On the latest episode of “Spinning Back Clique”, the panel reacts to Max Holloway’s insane KO win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.

On the latest episode of “Spinning Back Clique,” the panel reacts to [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag]’s insane KO win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.

Holloway arguably made the biggest statement on Saturday night, as the former UFC featherweight champion moved up a weight class and knocked out Gaethje in brutal fashion, with one second remaining in the fight, to win the BMF title. It was a massive victory for the Hawaiian and one that opens up many possibilities.

So, should Holloway drop back down to featherweight and look to challenge champion Ilia Topiria? Or should he stay at lightweight and chase his second division title?

MMA Junkie’s Brian “Goze” Garcia, Danny Segura, Mike Bohn, and host “Gorgeous” George Garcia discuss Holloway’s big win and where he should go next.

Watch their discussion in the video above, and also don’t miss this week’s complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below on YouTube or in podcast form.

https://youtube.com/live/DfQNA0RgoK8

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Spinning Back Clique REPLAY: UFC 300 review, Holloway wins BMF title, Makhachev & McGregor return, more

On “Spinning Back Clique,” our panel discusses the fallout of UFC 300 including, Holloway’s BMF win, McGregor’s return, and more.

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.

This week’s panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Mike Bohn and Danny Segura will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at 11:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate everything around UFC 300:

  • The UFC reached its 300th pay-per-view event, a big milestone for the Las Vegas-based promotion. Where does this massive event rank in UFC history? On paper, it was a great card, and it delivered as promised.
  • [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] arguably made the biggest statement on Saturday night. The former UFC featherweight champion knocked out [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] in brutal fashion with one second remaining in the fight for the BMF title. So what’s next for Holloway? Should he stay at 155 pounds or go back to 145? Holloway has many options after this career-defining win.
  • On top of Holloway’s win, there were several other important lightweight bouts, as well as other lightweight bookings announced: [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] defeated former champion [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag], [autotag]Renato Moicano[/autotag] stopped Jalin Turner and [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag] picked apart Jim Miller. Additionally, the [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] title defense vs. [autotag]Dutin Poirier[/autotag] was made official, along with the return of [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag], who faces lightweight standout [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] in a welterweight bout. Big news and results that heavily impact the UFC lightweight division.
  • In the main event of UFC 300, [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] successfully defended his light heavyweight belt for the very first time, knocking out [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag]. It was a huge win for the Brazilian, who requested a heavyweight fight in a quick turnaround at UFC 301 in Brazil next month.
  • In the other undisputed title fight, [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] defended her UFC strawweight belt against fellow Chinese fighter [autotag]Yan Xiaonan[/autotag]. It was a solid showing by Weili, who logged the second title defense of her second championship reign.
  • [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] made a huge splash on Saturday night. In a dominant showing, she submitted former champion [autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag], a victory that even caught the attention of former two-division UFC champion [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag]. What’s next for Harrison? Is she a future UFC champion? We unpack it all.
  • Lastly, several other big storylines went down at UFC 300. The panel quickly reviews [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag]’s featherweight debut, [autotag]Bo Nickal[/autotag]’s submission win, [autotag]Diego Lopes[/autotag]’ most recent first-round finish and more.

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UFC 300 bonuses: Max Holloway gets unthinkable double for $600,000

The UFC handed out bonuses in record amounts after Saturday’s card, including a pair to an all-time legend.

The UFC handed out bonuses in record amounts after Saturday’s card, including a pair to an all-time legend.

After UFC 300, three fighters picked up an extra $300,000 for their performances in Las Vegas – and one double-dipped for $600K. Check out the winners below.

Max Holloway def. Justin Gaethje for ‘BMF’ title at UFC 300: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Max Holloway’s fifth-round knockout win over Justin Gaethje to win the “BMF” title at UFC 300.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag]’s fifth-round knockout win over [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] to win the “BMF” title at UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Fight and venue photos by Mark J. Rebilas, USA Today Sports and Carmen Mandato, Getty Images)