Alexander Volkanovski of Australia punches Max Holloway in their UFC featherweight championship fight during the UFC 251 event at Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island on July 12, 2020 on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Ahead of his co-main duties against featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, we take a look at whether Max Holloway has ever been knocked out
Max Holloway will fight Alexander Volkanovski for the third time this weekend at UFC 276. Holloway lost the belt to Volkanovski in a razor-thin contest, and has already been beaten by the Aussie twice. He aims to recapture the belt, and solidify his claim as the best featherweight come Saturday night.
Holloway is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the game, and self-acclaimed best boxer in MMA. Holloway fights out of Hawaii, a land known for glow pulses of lava, searing heat clashes with water cold enough to freeze, powerful waves that sculpt the shoreline. It is also known for producing some of the most fearsome warriors in the history of this sport.
Hawaiian fighters are a combination of American swagger and technique, mixed with Mexican fighting spirit and toughness. Popular for the welcoming ‘Aloha’ spirit they can switch up and reach out for their warrior spirit within, and never shy away from a fist-fight.
Holloway embodies the spirit of Hawaii, and comes to fight with everything he has every time he fights. He has an iron chin, and unbreakable will. Holloway has never been knocked inside the UFC or in his MMA career. His only loss came in his UFC debut against Dustin Poirier at UFC 143 via triangle submission.
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya holds an unwavering view that he’s the best middleweight on the planet, and his record speaks for itself. He has been on a rampant run, wiping out almost the entire division. He is all set to face Jared Cannonier at UFC 276, in a quest for his fifth title defense. His opponent Jared Cannonier has emerged as the dark horse of the division, and is confident in his abilities to dethrone the middleweight king. Cannonier dug deep, and overcame some adversity in his last fight against Derek Brunson, eventually knocking him out cold. Adesanya on the other hand has been lapping the division, and beat Robert Whittaker in their rematch at UFC 271.
It was being discussed after UFC 273, and even confirmed by the champion Alexander Volkanovski himself that he’s looking at a move up in weight class owing to lack of competition at featherweight. But looks like the UFC has reminded the Volk about his unfinished business at 145 lbs. The pair was supposed to meet for the third time at UFC 272 in March, but Holloway pulled out after aggravating a previous injury The Korean Zombie stepped in as a replacement, and Volkanovski absolutely dismantled him.
Although Volkanovski beat Max Holloway on both occasion when they last fought, there are still some doubts in the minds of many people, who believe that Holloway won both the fights. The trilogy fight will determine once and for all the featherweight GOAT, since both fighters are at the top of this conversation.
Former UFC undisputed lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov had some views on the main and co-main event of UFC 276. He has picked City Kickboxing teammates Israel Adesanya and Alexander Volkanovski to beat their respective opponents.
Speaking about the main event, he said, “I must say it’s gonna be very close fight in middleweight division. Adesanya vs. Cannonier. But I think like Adesanya little bit step away, one foot away from Cannonier in class. If we’re talking about class.”
“About Holloway-Volkanovski, I must say I’m really impressed with Volkanovski about his last couple of performance. I like Max Holloway, I like him. This is nothing personal but I think Volkanovski gonna defend his title. It’s question, how?! Who knows. But I see he more stay busy, fight all the time, experience… Maybe experience like same. Like little bit more fire. I think he [Volkanovksi] have little bit more fire than Max Holloway. “
More MMA news
Follow our dedicated MMA page for instant MMA news and updates