Max Holloway waiting on new contract before making title defense

[La Paix]

Max Holloway
Esther Lin, MMA Fighting


With Conor McGregor seemingly gone from the featherweight division for good, and longtime champion Jose Aldo conquered, Max Holloway is the man at 145 pounds.

Now he’s looking for a king’s ransom.

While worthy challengers like Frankie Edgar and Cub Swanson are waiting in line to go toe-to-toe with Holloway, the proud Hawaiian is unsure of when he’ll compete next due to the fact that his UFC 212 title unification bout triumph over Aldo was apparently the last fight on his contract.

“Now we’re just taking it one step at a time. I can’t force something. I’m not going to rush something. I’m not going to get mad over something that I have no control over,” Holloway told KHON2. “Like I said, I can control my feelings and that’s what I am focusing on, myself. It’s only giving me more time to get better, you know? Don’t poke the bear. They’re poking at me right now, but they’re going to see on fight night, so I can’t wait. I’m only getting better.

Max Holloway waiting on new contract before making title defense

 

[TheEmperorRises]

So probably late 2018 or early 2019 then. Great.

 

[RaginCajun]

Hold those belts like your life depends on it boys.

 

[Yossarian]

But...but...he's not even a champion. Some people tell me you have to defend first. Right now it is just some sort of interim belt right?

 

[Robbie Hart]

I would like to see him drag this out while they have 7 more interim belts up for grabs.....

 

[bully4me]

Max is smart. He's doing the right thing by throwing the ball in their court right now. Max is an exciting fighter who would move up to LW to fight Conor in a SuperFight (Only say that cuz the new UFC Brass is into that these days), he's a standup fighter who finishes and the UFC can Promote him. That's all on his side.

Timing is also great for Holloway right now - 115 Joanna J is on the BIG ASS New York Card
- 125 Mighty Mouse has a fight coming up (not a big draw)
- 135 Cody is on the NY Card so he's tied up for a while
- 135 W Nunes just had a fight ( not a crowd pleasing one) She's out for a while
- 155 McGregor out till who knows when
- 170 Woodley, will anybody PAY to watch him fight soon?
- 185 Bisping on upcoming New York Card vs GSP
- 205 Cormier, Who knows when he'll return, mentally he's messed up cuz of JJ and took a beating
- 265 Stipe, nothing announced, could fight soon but against who?

As far as PPV's and Championship Fights. The UFC has put THREE TITLE Fights on the New York Card. Between Fighters who just fought, are about to fight (before or at NYC), the rest nobody is interested in seeing at the moment. Doesn't leave the company with many options for upcoming PPV's. With the new format of wanting TWO Championship fights per PPV it doesn't leave many options of Champions people are willing to pay for. UFC needs to have Max signed, they know he's worth it, hope his management does well for him.

Nice thing for Max having the UFC in a bit of a bind.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

But...but...he's not even a champion. Some people tell me you have to defend first. Right now it is just some sort of interim belt right?

Nope, undisputed champ. Won the interim belt when he best Pettis and unified when he best Aldo.

 

[Yossarian]

Max is smart. He's doing the right thing by throwing the ball in their court right now. Max is an exciting fighter who would move up to LW to fight Conor in a SuperFight (Only say that cuz the new UFC Brass is into that these days), he's a standup fighter who finishes and the UFC can Promote him. That's all on his side.

Timing is also great for Holloway right now - 115 Joanna J is on the BIG ASS New York Card
- 125 Mighty Mouse has a fight coming up (not a big draw)
- 135 Cody is on the NY Card so he's tied up for a while
- 135 W Nunes just had a fight ( not a crowd pleasing one) She's out for a while
- 155 McGregor out till who knows when
- 170 Woodley, will anybody PAY to watch him fight soon?
- 185 Bisping on upcoming New York Card vs GSP
- 205 Cormier, Who knows when he'll return, mentally he's messed up cuz of JJ and took a beating
- 265 Stipe, nothing announced, could fight soon but against who?

As far as PPV's and Championship Fights. The UFC has put THREE TITLE Fights on the New York Card. Between Fighters who just fought, are about to fight (before or at NYC), the rest nobody is interested in seeing at the moment. Doesn't leave the company with many options for upcoming PPV's. With the new format of wanting TWO Championship fights per PPV it doesn't leave many options of Champions people are willing to pay for. UFC needs to have Max signed, they know he's worth it, hope his management does well for him.

Nice thing for Max having the UFC in a bit of a bind.

Agreed. It may suck for us fans, but will be good for him in the long run. Champs are holding on to their belts now, and really taking control of their worth.

 

[Yossarian]

Nope, undisputed champ. Won the interim belt when he best Pettis and unified when he best Aldo.

Oh the rules chamge per fighter, oh I get it. I am starting to learn how to become an MMA fan.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

Oh the rules chamge per fighter, oh I get it. I am starting to learn how to become an MMA fan.

What rules..?

 

[RaginCajun]

 

[Mix6APlix]

get rid of belts. they are worthless.

 

[Yossarian]

What rules..?

The rules you can apply to a fighter as a fan. When a fighter you don't like doesn't defend his title, he is not a real champion. I am starting to like this MMA fan thing.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

The rules you can apply to a fighter as a fan. When a fighter you don't like doesn't defend his title, he is not a real champion. I am starting to like this MMA fan thing.

Max just unified that title 3 months ago. Calm down.

 

[Yossarian]

Max just unified that title 3 months ago. Calm down.

I have no problem with him waiting for a better pay, and I consider him champion right now, even without having defended his belt. I'm just have a little fun with the you-gotta-defend-your-belt mouth breathers out there.

 

[bully4me]

Oh the rules chamge per fighter, oh I get it. I am starting to learn how to become an MMA fan.

However that does pose a question I've never really thought about. If a fighter becomes interm Champ, then goes on to win the Unified Belt, has he/she defended the belt? Because they did have a belt of sortt? HMMMMMMMM

Could be Yes or No! depending how one looks at it. Any thoughts?

 

[Enock-O-Lypse Now!]

 

[Tiiimmmaaayyy]

The UFC probably fucked up by not resigning him before a title fight. I don't know why they would allow anyone to fight for a belt on the final fight of their contract. I think Max is wise for trying to get more money, but I think it will likely end in his leaving for Bellator.

 

[Enock-O-Lypse Now!]

The UFC probably fucked up by not resigning him before a title fight. I don't know why they would allow anyone to fight for a belt on the final fight of their contract. I think Max is wise for trying to get more money, but I think it will likely end in his leaving for Bellator.

I hope so...he needs to go join Mousasi over at Bellator where Coker gives the fighters respect and Viacom is acting like Ted Turner in the WCW days by throwing money at whoever wants it ....

Go get some of that Viacom money Max...Doooooo it!

 

[TheFifthScallop]

UFC is making him holdout so they can sell another interim title fight.

 

[member 3289]

Nope, undisputed champ. Won the interim belt when he best Pettis and unified when he best Aldo.

 

[Yossarian]

However that does pose a question I've never really thought about. If a fighter becomes interm Champ, then goes on to win the Unified Belt, has he/she defended the belt? Because they did have a belt of sortt? HMMMMMMMM

Could be Yes or No! depending how one looks at it. Any thoughts?

He was the champ when he got the interim belt, period. It is not his fault the interim belt was a neccesity. I think there's too much emphasis on defending, and not on actually winning the belt. Ya know like a tournament, that fighter was the actual winner and champion.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

He was the champ when he got the interim belt, period. It is not his fault the interim belt was a neccesity. I think there's too much emphasis on defending, and not on actually winning the belt. Ya know like a tournament, that fighter was the actual winner and champion.

There's an emphasis on seeing a champion actually defend because the UFC let people like Conor sit on belts and never defend them, log jamming divisions.

 

[Yossarian]

There's an emphasis on seeing a champion actually defend because the UFC let people like Conor sit on belts and never defend them, log jamming divisions.

Well, it's been a long standing tradition, Cain, GSP, Pettis, and many other champions have had long breaks in between fighting, when they had a belt in their possesion. It's really about people being salty when it comes to Conor, he lives in their heads. Meanwhile, we just saw him fight, while others had injuries, or other types of situations. Max is a champ regardless of all this.

 

[Joemacka]

Ducking Edgar.