Max Holloway is a certified BMF. And then some.
The former UFC featherweight champion defeated fan favorite Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 on Saturday to win the promotion's ceremonial “BMF” belt in the wildest way possible. Seconds after his unanimous decision win, Holloway pointed to the center of the Octagon and urged Gaethje to go full throttle until the buzzer sounded.
The result was not only the clear knockout of the year, but perhaps the roughest knockout in the UFC's 31-year history.
Gaethje lay unconscious on the mat as Holloway walked away with a primal scream. Despite having two title fights on record, this was the clear highlight of a much-anticipated night and a career-defining moment for a man who was already one of the most accomplished fighters in UFC history. .
Holloway used the opportunity to call for a title fight against current featherweight champion Ilya Topria, as well as lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
“I'm him, guys! I'm him!” Holloway said. “El Matador, he's running from the bull, running for his life. It's time to sign the contract. Spain, Hawaii, whatever. Even Islam. Islam is famous for defending against the 45ers. Right? I'm him. I'm here. ”
“No matter what weight I am, I'm a gladiator. I don't care. Whoever's next, just sign on the dotted line.”
Mr. Holloway also called to receive a $600,000 bonus for this effort. UFC President Dana White complied, and it wasn't hard to see why. This windfall increased Holloway's career bonus to his $1.15 million. Sportsnet's Aaron Bronsteter.
Holloway's 13 career bonuses are six shy of Charles Oliveira's UFC record of 19, but the hefty number gives him the highest bonus total in the promotion's history.
“Of course,” White said. “It wasn't difficult at all.”
Max Holloway wins and captures glory at UFC 300
Holloway, 32, making the jump to lightweight for the second time in his career, showed vintage form, outmatching Gaethje in every round, albeit simply playing at a different speed. After the first round, Gaethje was bleeding profusely from his nose and was unable to keep up as the fight progressed.
Holloway held a steady advantage throughout the first round, then finished with an exclamation point. The former champion landed a spinning backheel directly on Gaethje's nose, causing Gaethje to stumble as the bell rang. Gaethje spent most of the time between rounds touching his nose in discomfort and it seemed very likely that he would take a break.
The second round was Holloway's chance against an injured opponent, but it ended badly. Holloway forcefully poked Gaethje in the left eye, then pressed his thumb into Gaethje's right eye again a few minutes later. Fortunately, Gaethje is one of the last fighters on the UFC roster who can end a fight with just a poke in the eye, and he insisted on continuing the fight during both timeouts.
The hits continued from Holloway in the third round and most of the fourth. The leader in significant strikes in UFC history was putting on a clinic until Gaethje dropped him out of nowhere and kept him on his heels for most of the rest of the round.
But Holloway survived. He had a decision victory in hand until the fifth round, but decided to throw it into the wind and stepped into a phone booth with one of the promotion's most dangerous knockout artists.
It was pure, uncut mixed martial arts excellence, pleasing the crowd, but negatively impacting Gaethje's consciousness.
