Max Holloway explains why he chose to face Justin Gaethje at UFC 300

Max Holloway has no regrets about fighting Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.

Holloway (25-7 MMA, 21-7 UFC) will take on BMF champion Gaethje (25-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) in a lightweight bout on April 13 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

With Holloway and Gaethje confirmed as the next title challengers in their respective weight classes, many wondered why this match was even happening. But Holloway says he wasn't going to sit on the sidelines.

“A lot of people are saying, 'Oh, this fight is crazy. Why are you guys doing this fight?'” Holloway said on his YouTube channel. “'Why? Why, Max? Why not wait for (Ilia) and Pria? Why not wait? Not many people know, but this game passes quickly. Ah. Time flies by. Nothing is promised. How many times have I seen someone promise a title fight and then it doesn't happen?

“How often have you seen someone fight for an interim title and then it never happens? Me and Gaethje were respectfully next up for a title shot, right? How many times does that work? It doesn't always work. That's why with Topria, people keep saying, “Oh, you're next.” Like, am I real?

After Alexander Volkanovski lost his featherweight title to Ilia Topuria at UFC 298, former champion Holloway knew an immediate rematch was imminent.

“I always thought that if Topuria somehow beat Volk, Volk would get a direct rematch,” Holloway said. “Volk did a good enough job to earn a direct rematch. And everyone's like, 'Oh, but after the knockout (he shouldn't get a rematch),' and blah, blah,” he said. Volk is still making money. He still earns money. he did what he had to do. He has numerous title defenses under his belt.

“Just because he moves up a weight class and loses, I don't think it should affect his own weight class. So at the end of the day, if Topria wins, Volk will get a direct rematch no matter what. I always thought I'd wait because he would. And in Gaethje's situation, who knew Charles (Oliveira) would be so bad that Islam (Makhachev) wouldn't be able to turn around and fight? ?”

In hindsight, Holloway believes he made the right choice to fight Gaethje rather than wait for fate in a featherweight title fight.

“In this sport, you just wait and the sport passes by you,” Holloway said. “And it goes by so quickly. So all you can do is stay busy, right? I'm blessed to have the opportunity to be in this situation with Justin Gaethje.”

For more information on this card, check out MMA Junkie's UFC 300 event hub.