It may seem strange to some but it is more than four years since Max Holloway last held a UFC title.
The Hawaiian, lauded by most as being among the finest featherweight fighters in history, has been defeated in three of his past four fights in which a world title was on the line, losing twice to Alexander Volkanovski (three times overall) and to Dustin Poirier in a bout to contest the interim lightweight championship.
And while the so-called ‘BMF’ title has its critics, Holloway will again compete for a belt at this Saturday night’s UFC 300 opposite Justin Gaethje in a fight widely being held as a highlight of the historic card to take place in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Four months prior to that aforementioned loss to Poirier, Holloway fought the then-unbeaten Brian Ortega in defence of his 145-pound strap, and showcased exactly why he is so well-regarded in the weight class with a near faultless performance — during which he even gave Ortega an impromptu boxing lesson at one point.
Holloway is the bookies’ underdog ahead of his clash with Gaethje but when he is ‘on’ there are few more effective fighters on the UFC roster.
You can see what we mean in his shellacking of Ortega below.
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