Max Holloway earned the “BMF” title strap in one of the most violently engineered fashions ever possible. Upto the fight happening, the former featherweight champ was a +200 opening odds underdog to heavy betting favorite Justin Gaethje. It was his second attempt at the 155-pound mark, after all. However, those odds narrowed since the Hawaiian fighter started divulging updates on his sheer physicality.
UFC 300 took shape on Apr. 13 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Three spectacular title matches capped off the main card. The 155-pound “BMF” title strap preceded the two “real” UFC titles up for grabs on the card. Consequently, most considered Max Holloway’s return to lightweight as a legacy rebound. Much on the lines of how Chael Sonnen facing Anderson Silva in a boxing match today feels like, after already making it to the Hall of Fame. Or how Jon Jones or Jorge Masvidal’s return feels wearily unappealing.
However, it turned out anything but! Max Holloway faceplanting Justin Gaethje at a final buzzer for the all-time violent knockout was not just a typical highlight. It instigated a tidal wave through the combat sports circles that have caught on quite a few chapters in the fallout. Concurrently, here’s a brief thread of why it deserves a closer look.
Biggest Momentous Factor
Max Holloway’s buzzer-beating “BMF” knockout moment didn’t just keep fans, pundits, and peers in awe. It had a more long-lasting effect than most vicious KOs in the current running. In the waning seconds of the battle, ‘Blessed’ pointed to Justin Gaethje and called to action in the middle of the octagon. Although already ahead on the scorecards, Holloway decided to duke it out in Hail Mary swings. It’s not just his fateful overhand that lives on as “the” moment; it’s the whole sequence.
Max Holloway’s $600,000 knockout stint has had a wide range of splash (Source: IMAGO/Instagram)A Dutch MMA promotion – Levels Fight League, implemented a “Max Point Throwdown” bonus of $5000 allocated between five fights. If LFL combatants were to similarly point to the center and “initiate the exchange,” braving it and putting in the work, they’d earn $5000 in Fight bonus for such a “viral moment.” An LFL representative divulged the deeds to Jamie Theodosi (@JamieTheoMMA) of Bloody Elbow.
Chan Sung Jung, a.k.a The Korean Zombie, had a losing outcome against Holloway at UFC Singapore. The duo has maintained an amiable friendship since then. He even reports seeing the “Holloway effect” in action with three fighters going for the gesture at his ‘Korean Zombie Amateur League.” If that isn’t the biggest momentous factor (BMF; all puns intended) of the sequence, what is?
Greatest Showman Ever
Max Holloway was easily leading ahead up three rounds to one; Justin Gaethje did drop him in Round 4. However, with that not registering as an isometric flatline, the Waianae 145-pound standout was up by 4. About to win the fifth, Holloway pointed to the center of the octagon as the 10-second clapper sounded. Holloway says his risky disposition was to honor the essence of a “Biggest-baddest-of-all” fight. Thereafter, it was all about the chivalrous attempt to risk it all in one last shot.
Max Holloway has chosen to put out quite an imagery with his fights (Source: UFC.go.com/IMAGO)Even ‘The Highlight’ obliged. Is it the perfect showman attitude ever? One should certainly think so. Holloway has remained a bright long-stay with much battle experience. He went 0-3 against Alexander ‘The Great’ Volkanovski; he went the distance with Yair Rodriguez. The 32-year-old knocked down Arnold Allen and then defeated The Korean Zombie, and is the BMF now. It’s safe to say he knows what he is doing. He even did the same, slinging with Ricardo Lamas at UFC 199.
Strike Broker
Consequently, his momentous win has had thunderous consequences, even further from fans. UFC veteran Edson Barboza expressed interest in a BMF title fight. Volkanovski is open to a fourth fight in light of the illustrious silver strap. Even from a more tactile standpoint, the sequence and the whole win furthered some neat agendas. It will likely win the Knockout of the Year for the UFC and various publications.
Max Holloway’s unbelievable KO of Justin Gaethje sent a pulse through the MMA world (Source: foxnews.com/UFC.go.com)Speaking to Kaz Crossley of Title Sports Network (@TitleSportsNetwork), Justin Gaethje divulged he avoids a wrestling-heavy approach because it would never earn him as beneficially as it does in the current grind. He himself is a consensus heavy-hitter, after all. Similarly, speaking with BJJ legend Roy͏ce Gr͏acie ͏on The JRE MMA Show #156, Joe Rogan touched upon it as well. He mentioned that modern MMA rules favored heavily in support of stand-up strikers than grapplers.
The orthodox out of Gracie Technics MMA is a good striker; Holloway could have thus ended it if he hit the pedal hard enough. Yet he went on risky wild swings, understanding peer and public demand. He delivered an all-time great sequence in the major trifecta card. This moment alone can find a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame’s ‘Fight Wing’ down the line.
BMF belt — Easy pickings?
One of the best things his fight and post-fight ambitions did was magnet the attention of 145-pound champ Ilia Topuria. Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) expects his first title defense to be against the Hawaiian fighter. Negligent at first, he swayed in favor. Instead of risking his nascent title on the line, he has now found a deep attraction for the “BMF” belt.
Ilia Topuria wants “easy picking” Max Holloway’s niche strap (Source: Instagram/forbes.com)Holloway previously challenged the current 145-pound guard after his last-second BMF knockout. Instead of accepting the challenge outright, Ilia Topuria demands Holloway’s newly acquired title to be up for stake. This is because Holloway’s out-of-rhythm slinging gave him the impression that he is easy pickings. He said as much to The MMA Hour (for MMAFighting on SBN), criticizing the lack of technical sophistication. As a boxing-heavy ranged to mid-range fighter, Holloway is nothing if not technical when need be.
Verdict
Holloway’s big BMF win has remained a multi-purpose dinking die on all fronts. Be the “BMF” — check. Deliver on an all-time great knockout — check. Earn a double-dip of $600,000 in “Performance of the Night” and “Fight of the Night” Bonus coverage – Check.
Garner callouts from tall staples in the game — check and check. The nature of some pre-fight bets in a major pay-per-view card is subject to volatility. Max Holloway proved that through and through against Justin Gaethje.
UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has mapped out Max Holloway as the fight to make (Source: UFC.go.com/ UFC (@ufc) on Threads)BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines of prediction around his win had prop bets on a knockout, but never like this. Even on a sure-winning stint, it took the world by storm! Moreover, he now has the attention of champ Ilia Topruia while also debuting as an #8 ranking lightweight. Double-dip again.
Topuria considers him the fight to make, even before other big prize fights (think Conor McGregor). Considered one of the “good guys” in the sport, Max Holloway has started one lean mean “BMF” stratagem. “Baddest of all,” indeed.
