Max Holloway isn’t one of these fighters that are all talk.
UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway will be fighting Khabib Nurmagomedov for the lightweight strap at UFC 223. ‘Blessed’ replaces Tony Ferguson who pulled out of the fight on six days’ notice with a knee injury.
Who saw that coming? Well, since this marks the fourth time this match-up has fallen through, quite a few people feared the possibility, including John Kavanagh.
This is also the third UFC PPV in a row where the main event has changed because of injury. Robert Whittaker pulled out of Perth after a serious staph infection. Max Holloway withdrew from Vegas with an ankle injury. However, prior being removed from UFC 222, ‘Blessed’ indicated that he would be more than willing to save UFC 223 should disaster strike.
Typical #UFC223 https://t.co/7b8PAsH2QN
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) April 2, 2018
Man of his word
In January, the UFC held its 25th-anniversary press conference. The four fighters set to headline the next two PPVs – Ferguson, Nurmagomedov, Holloway and Frankie Edgar – were brought on stage to field questions. When Dana White was asked about a Plan B regarding UFC 223, Holloway spoke up before he got a chance to answer.
“You’ve got a 45 champion that would gladly take that spot after March 3.”
Ferguson then chimed up with, “Somebody’s getting their ass kicked that day.” White added that no plans were currently in place should either man not make the walk in Brooklyn.
“Ehm… we haven’t really thought about that. I’m hoping the fourth time’s the charm and this fights’ going to happen. We’ll figure it out. We don’t have anything in place right now.”
Once the shit hit the proverbial, Holloway was given the call. True to his word, he accepted it without hesitation. ‘Blessed’ is as game as they come.
