UFC 300 kicked off on April 13 and showcased an complete night of competitive fights amid a lot of divisions. One of the most intriguing fights was the BMF (Baddest Mother F*****) title struggle, which took position involving Max Holloway and Justin Gaethje. The fight was held as a lightweight division contest and the very first time that Holloway moved up to the lightweight division considering the fact that he began his profession in combined martial arts in 2011. Though several anticipated the battle to go in a different way, Holloway built a statement.
By means of 5 rounds of action, Holloway was the aggressor, staggering Gaethje with cleanse pictures every spherical. Gaethje is recognised for his power, but the fret was on if Holloway’s power would translate to a larger excess weight course. That was clearly the scenario, as Holloway dropped Gaethje with a vicious suitable-hand hook in the last next of the fifth round.
Holloway approached the middle of the octagon and pointed at the floor, signaling that he was prepared to go punch-for-punch with Gaethje with the remaining time in the spherical. The pair squared off and started to rain down punches on one particular another. Holloway related additional and with much more electricity, as he knocked Gaethje out chilly in the ultimate next, which still left the MMA earth reeling.
Not only did Holloway gain the BMF title, but he also secured the Effectiveness of the Evening and Struggle of the Night bonus. Each bonuses are usually an extra $50,000, but UFC President Dana White declared they would be elevated to $300,000 to signify the unique nature of achieving UFC 300.
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Holloway walked away with an added $600,000 in reward funds on best of obtaining his contracted volume for the fight and successful. The knockout and battle showcased just how excellent Holloway has develop into. He dominated Gaethje in a fat class he typically does not fight at, and Gaethje is a prime contender at lightweight—which makes the get even a lot more amazing.
That reported, Holloway now has a multitude of alternatives for his subsequent fight. Listed here are a number of opponents he is possible to experience next.
Ilia Topuria – Featherweight Winner
The most sensible preference for Holloway is to just take on Ilia Topuria, who is the existing UFC Featherweight Winner. Topuria has been on an undefeated run in the UFC considering the fact that 2015, getting down massive names like Bryce Mitchell, Josh Emmett, and previous champion Alexander Volkanovski—which landed him the title.
Topuria commenced to examine his subsequent opponent, but frequently still left out Holloway in his ideas. In spite of his seeking to find his first title defense, he could be at the mercy of White and Hunter Campbell, as they will want to e book a struggle that will attract the most eyes and revenue.
Holloway has also seemingly gotten better every fight, and right after knocking out Gaethje as he did, he could possibly not be denied any combat. Topuria has currently taken to social media to get in touch with out Holloway, and they are probably to struggle a single another in the summer months or drop.
Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor is continue to the greatest attract in the UFC, and his lining up to battle Holloway future would be a single of the biggest fights in UFC background. The pair squaring off in opposition to 1 a different for the BMF title would be unbelievable to see.
McGregor’s return to the octagon was eventually announced by White, which he unveiled would headline UFC 303 on June 29, and see the previous two-division champ choose on Michael Chandler. Chandler and McGregor have been at each other’s throats for months on social media, and they can lastly settle their private beef in June.
Even even though McGregor is slated for a June return, must he acquire dominantly, he and Holloway could encounter off at the close of the yr for the BMF title. This would be an incredible matchup for longtime UFC followers.
Major-5 Light-weight Contender
This may possibly sound like a weird alternative to position listed here, but let’s face facts—Holloway has attained a shot against a prime-5 contender in the lightweight division. Gaethje is ranked No. 2 in the Light-weight division, and he was just dominated by Holloway.
It stands to cause that Holloway could then face a person like Arman Tsarukyan. Tsarukyan was rated No. 4 in the division but just defeated Charles Oliveira, who is rated No. 1. Holloway could get on both a single of them, as he has showcased that his techniques at lightweight are major-notch.
Other lightweight prospects for Holloway to consider on following are No. 3 rated Dustin Poirier, however he is scheduled to fight lightweight winner Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 on June 1. Poirier, win or lose, could experience Holloway at the stop of the calendar year or early 2025.
If Chandler beats McGregor, it could spawn a different intriguing BMF matchup for Holloway at the close of the calendar year as effectively. Even if Chandler wins, Holloway experiencing McGregor would still be a enormous attract.
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