Max Holloway

Jerome Max Kelii Holloway (born December 4, 1991) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Featherweight and Lightweight divisions in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the current UFC BMF (baddest motherfucker) Champion and a former UFC Featherweight Champion. As of February 20, 2024, he is #2 in the UFC featherweight rankings, and as of April 16, 2024, he is #9 in the UFC lightweight rankings and #8 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings.

Background
Holloway was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and raised in Waianae, an area known for fist fighting. He is of Native Hawaiian and Samoan ancestry. Holloway's parents were heavy drug users, his mother Missy Kapoi being a crystal meth consumer who later recovered. His father, Mark Holloway, who constantly abused his mother, left when Max was around 11 years old. Max started training kickboxing in 2007 at the end of his sophomore year, aged 15, out of Team Ruthless, and went on to win his first amateur bout in the sport after three days of training. He graduated from Waianae High School in 2010.

Early MMA career
At the age of 19, Holloway had amassed a record of 4–0. He gained recognition as the #7 featherweight prospect of 2012 in Bloody Elbow's 2012 World MMA Scouting Report and was compared with former UFC and former WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, due to his ability to incorporate a wide array of flying and spinning kicks, knees and elbows into his striking game. He would later go on to defeat Pettis to capture the UFC featherweight championship before unifying the title.

His early career was highlighted by a split decision win over former Strikeforce and WEC veteran Harris Sarimento on March 12, 2011, earning himself the lightweight strap for the Hawaii-based X-1 promotion.

2012
Holloway was the youngest fighter on the UFC roster when he made his promotional debut as an injury replacement for Ricardo Lamas at UFC 143 on February 4, 2012, against Dustin Poirier. He lost the fight via submission (mounted triangle armbar) in the first round.

In his second fight, Holloway faced Pat Schilling on June 1, 2012, at The Ultimate Fighter 15 Finale. Holloway won via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).

Holloway defeated Justin Lawrence, on August 11, 2012, at UFC 150. Holloway won the fight via TKO in the second round.

Holloway fought Leonard Garcia on December 29, 2012, at UFC 155, replacing an injured Cody McKenzie. Holloway won the close fight via split decision.

2013
Holloway faced Dennis Bermudez on May 25, 2013, at UFC 160. He lost the fight controversially via split decision. 11 out of 11 media members scored the fight in favor of Holloway.

Holloway faced Conor McGregor on August 17, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 26. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

2014
Holloway faced promotional newcomer Will Chope on January 4, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 34. Holloway won the fight via TKO in the second round. The win also earned Holloway his first Knockout of the Night bonus.

Holloway faced Andre Fili on April 26, 2014, at UFC 172. He won the back-and-forth fight after submitting Fili in the third round.

Holloway was expected to face Mirsad Bektić on August 23, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 49, replacing an injured Ernest Chavez. However, Bektic pulled out of the bout in the week leading up to the event and was replaced by promotional newcomer Clay Collard. Holloway won the fight via TKO in the third round.

Holloway again served as a replacement and faced Akira Corassani on October 4, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 53, filling in for Chan Sung Jung. He won the fight via knockout in the first round. The win earned Holloway his first Performance of the Night bonus award.

2015
Holloway faced Cole Miller on February 15, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 60. Holloway won via unanimous decision.

Holloway faced Cub Swanson on April 18, 2015, at UFC on Fox 15. Holloway finished the fight with a mounted guillotine in the third round. The win also earned Holloway his second Performance of the Night bonus award.

Holloway faced Charles Oliveira on August 23, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 74. He won the fight via TKO in the first round after Oliveira suffered an apparent neck/shoulder injury while defending a takedown and was unable to continue. The injury was later described as a micro-tear in his esophagus, although the UFC later released a statement clarifying that Oliveira had no major injuries. With the win, Holloway became the youngest fighter in UFC history to get 10 wins.

Holloway faced Jeremy Stephens on December 12, 2015, at UFC 194. Holloway won the fight via unanimous decision.

2016
Holloway faced Ricardo Lamas on June 4, 2016, at UFC 199. He won via unanimous decision.

Holloway faced Anthony Pettis for the interim UFC Featherweight Championship on December 10, 2016, at UFC 206. At the weigh-ins, Pettis came in at 148 lbs., three pounds over the featherweight limit of 145 lbs for a championship fight. As a result, in case Pettis were to win the fight with Holloway, he would be ineligible for the UFC championship. Pettis was also fined 20% of his purse, which went to Holloway and the bout proceeded at a catchweight. Holloway won the fight via TKO in the third round and was awarded a Performance of the Night bonus.

2017
Holloway faced the featherweight champion José Aldo in a title unification bout on June 3, 2017, at UFC 212. After facing some early adversity, Holloway defeated Aldo via TKO in the third round and earned his first Fight of the Night bonus award for the bout.

On October 4, 2017, Holloway revealed that he had signed a new multi-fight deal with UFC. Holloway was expected to face Frankie Edgar on December 2, 2017, at UFC 218; however, on November 8, 2017, Edgar withdrew from the card due to injury and was replaced by José Aldo. Holloway won the fight via TKO in the third round and retained the UFC Featherweight belt.

2018
The bout with Edgar was rescheduled and was expected to take place on March 3, 2018, at UFC 222. However, it was announced on February 3, 2018, that Holloway had been forced to pull out of the bout due to a leg injury.



On April 1, 2018, Holloway was announced as a late replacement for the injured Tony Ferguson in a fight for the vacant undisputed UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 223 against Khabib Nurmagomedov to be held on April 7, 2018. If victorious, Holloway would be only the second fighter (behind Conor McGregor) in UFC history to hold titles in two different divisions simultaneously. Holloway, who had no fight scheduled and was not in a training camp, accepted the fight with only six days to prepare. On April 6, as he was due to weigh in, Holloway was pulled from the card by New York State Athletic Commission doctors due to the severity of his short-notice weight cut. The bout continued with Al Iaquinta as a last minute replacement for Holloway.

Holloway was then scheduled to defend his UFC Featherweight Championship title on July 7, 2018, at UFC 226 against Brian Ortega. However, on July 4, Holloway was pulled from the fight due to "concussion like symptoms".

For his second title defense, Holloway faced Brian Ortega in the main event at UFC 231 in Toronto, Canada on December 8, 2018. Holloway won the fight via TKO at the end of fourth round by doctor stoppage. This win earned him the Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night awards. Holloway broke the record for most significant strikes in one fight with 290, broke the record for landing 134 of those significant strikes in a round, and set the record for most victories in UFC featherweight history with fifteen. Holloway's significant strike records have since been surpassed by himself when he faced Calvin Kattar at UFC on ABC 1 on January 16, 2021, with 445 significant strikes landed in the fight and 141 landed in round four.

2019
As a result of the Khabib Nurmagomedov incident at UFC 229, the then lightweight champion Nurmagomedov was unable to defend his undisputed title until late 2019 which led to an interim lightweight title fight. For the interim UFC Lightweight Championship, Holloway moved up a weight class to face Dustin Poirier in a rematch. He lost the back-and-forth fight by unanimous decision. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.

Holloway came back down to featherweight, and a bout against former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar was scheduled a third time and eventually took place on July 27, 2019, in the main event of UFC 240. Holloway won the fight by unanimous decision, successfully defending his featherweight title for a third time.

In his fourth title defense, Holloway faced Alexander Volkanovski on December 14, 2019, at UFC 245. He lost the fight via unanimous decision, ending his featherweight reign.

2020
Holloway faced Alexander Volkanovski in a rematch for the UFC Featherweight Championship on July 12 at UFC 251. He lost the fight via split decision. This decision was controversial amongst media outlets, with 18 out of 27 media scores giving it to Holloway,  mixed martial arts personalities such as UFC president Dana White, former referee and creator of the rules system John McCarthy   and multiple mixed martial artists.

2021
Holloway faced Calvin Kattar on January 16, 2021, headlining UFC on ABC 1. Holloway dominated Kattar for all 5 rounds and won by unanimous decision, with two judges scoring the fight 50–43 and one judge scoring it 50–42 in his favor. During the last two minutes of the fifth round, Holloway landed a two-punch combo and proceeded to stare at the commentary team sitting cage-side and talk to them, while effortlessly dodging Kattar's strikes and yelling "I'm the best boxer in the UFC!" to him, which generated talk about an homage to Muhammad Ali, known for his showboating. Holloway set the UFC single-fight records for total strikes landed and attempted, significant strikes landed and attempted, strike differential, distance strikes landed, significant head strikes landed and significant body strikes landed. His fourth-round also set the record for strikes and significant strikes landed. Both fighters earned the Fight of the Night award.

Holloway was scheduled to face Yair Rodríguez on July 17, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 26. On June 17, 2021, reports stated that Holloway was forced to pull out of the fight with Rodríguez due to injury.

Holloway faced Yair Rodríguez on November 13, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 197. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Both fighters earned the Fight of the Night award.

2022
Holloway was scheduled to face Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC Featherweight Championship on March 5, 2022, at UFC 272. However, a day after the fight announcement, Holloway was forced to pull from the event due to injury. The trilogy bout was rescheduled to occur at UFC 276 on July 2, 2022. Holloway lost the bout via unanimous decision.

2023
Holloway faced Arnold Allen on April 15, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 44. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Holloway faced Jung Chan-sung on August 26, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 225. He won the bout via knockout at the beginning of the third round. This bout earned him a Fight of the Night award.

2024


Holloway faced Justin Gaethje in a lightweight bout on April 13, 2024, at UFC 300 for the symbolic "BMF" ("baddest motherfucker") belt. Holloway won the BMF championship by knockout in the last second of round five, tying the record for the latest knockout win in UFC history. Due to the UFC increasing the payout of post fight bonuses from $50,000 to $300,000 for the event, this fight earned him a $300,000 Performance of the Night award and a $300,000 Fight of the Night award totalling $600,000.

Personal life
Holloway married his long-time girlfriend Kaimana Pa'aluhi in 2012, with whom he has one son, Rush Holloway. The couple separated in 2014 before divorcing in 2017.

Holloway began dating Hawaiian pro surfer Alessa Quizon in early 2020. They married on April 16, 2022.

Championships and accomplishments

 * Ultimate Fighting Championship
 * UFC Featherweight Championship (One time)
 * Three successful title defenses
 * Interim UFC Featherweight Championship (One time)
 * Highest significant strike differential in UFC championship history (+180 vs. Brian Ortega)
 * Third most title fight wins in UFC Featherweight division history (5)
 * First American to win the UFC Featherweight Championship
 * UFC 'BMF' Championship (One time, Current)
 * Knockout of the Night (One time) vs. Will Chope
 * 2024 Half-Year Awards: Best Knockout of the 1HY (vs. Justin Gaethje)
 * Fight of the Night (Seven times) vs. José Aldo, Brian Ortega, Dustin Poirier 2, Calvin Kattar, Yair Rodríguez, Jung Chan-sung and Justin Gaethje
 * Tied (Diego Sanchez, Joe Lauzon, Jim Miller & Cub Swanson) for the sixth most Fight of the Night bonuses in UFC history (7)
 * Performance of the Night (Five times) vs. Akira Corassani, Cub Swanson, Anthony Pettis, Brian Ortega and Justin Gaethje
 * Tied (Cub Swanson) for most Post-Fight bonuses in UFC Featherweight division history (10)
 * Tied (Justin Gaethje & Edson Barboza) for the eighth most Post-Fight bonuses in UFC history (13)
 * Tied (Jon Jones, Demetrious Johnson, Georges St-Pierre & Khabib Nurmagomedov) for fourth longest winning streak in UFC history (13)
 * Longest winning streak in the UFC Featherweight division history (13)
 * Most wins in UFC Featherweight division history (20)
 * Most knockouts in UFC Featherweight division history (9)
 * Tied (Anderson Silva, Thiago Santos, Dustin Poirier & Anthony Johnson) for fourth most knockouts in UFC history (11)
 * Most finishes in UFC Featherweight division history (11)
 * Tied (Darren Elkins) for most bouts in UFC Featherweight division history (26)
 * Most significant strikes landed in UFC history (3378)
 * Most significant strikes landed in UFC Featherweight division history (2892)
 * Most total strikes landed in UFC history (3622)
 * Most total strikes landed in UFC Featherweight division history (3096)
 * Most total fight time in UFC Featherweight division history (6:47:23)
 * Third most total fight time in UFC history (7:51:09)
 * Tied (Charles Oliveira, Neil Magny, Demian Maia & Dustin Poirier) for fourth most wins in UFC history (22)
 * Second most decision wins in UFC Featherweight division history (9)
 * Third most knockdowns landed in UFC Featherweight division history (10)
 * Most significant strikes absorbed in UFC history (2223)
 * Most bouts without being knocked down in UFC history (29)
 * Most bouts with 100 or more significant strikes-per-fight in UFC history (16)
 * Highest significant strike differential in a fight in UFC history (+312 vs. Calvin Kattar)
 * Third highest striking differential in UFC Featherweight division history (2.5)
 * Third most significant strikes landed-per-minute in UFC Featherweight division history (7.1)
 * Tied (Demetrious Johnson & Yair Rodriguez) for the latest finish in UFC history (4:59 in R5 by KO vs. Justin Gaethje)
 * Latest finish in UFC Lightweight division history (4:59 in R5 vs. Justin Gaethje)
 * Tied (Yair Rodriguez) for the latest knockout in UFC history (4:59 in R5 vs. Justin Gaethje)
 * Latest knockout in UFC Lightweight division history (4:59 in R5 vs. Justin Gaethje)
 * Most significant strikes landed in a fight in UFC history (+445 vs. Calvin Kattar)
 * Second most significant strikes landed in a fight in UFC history (+290 vs. Brian Ortega)
 * Second most significant strikes landed in a fight in UFC Featherweight division history (+290 vs. Brian Ortega)
 * Third most significant strikes landed in a fight in UFC Featherweight division history (+230 vs. Yair Rodriguez)
 * Highest striking differential in a fight in UFC history (312 vs. Calvin Kattar)
 * Second highest striking differential in a fight in UFC history (180 vs. Brian Ortega)
 * Most significant strikes attempted in a fight in UFC history (+744 vs. Calvin Kattar)
 * Most significant strikes attempted in a fight in UFC Lightweight division history (+446 vs. Dustin Poirier 2)
 * Most significant strikes attempted in a fight in UFC Featherweight division history (+744 vs. Calvin Kattar)
 * Second most significant strikes attempted in a fight in UFC Featherweight division history (+490 vs. Brian Ortega)
 * Most distance strikes landed in a fight in UFC history (+439 vs. Calvin Kattar)
 * Second most distance strikes landed in a fight in UFC history (+281 vs. Brian Ortega)
 * Second most distance strikes landed in a fight in UFC Featherweight division history (+281 vs. Brian Ortega)
 * Third most distance strikes landed in a fight in UFC Featherweight division history (+187 vs. Yair Rodriguez)
 * Most significant head strikes landed in a fight in UFC history (+274 vs. Calvin Kattar)
 * Most significant head strikes landed in a fight in UFC Featherweight division history (+274 vs. Calvin Kattar)
 * Second most significant head strikes landed in a fight in UFC history/Featherweight division history (+244 vs. Brian Ortega)
 * Most significant body strikes landed in a fight in UFC history (+117 vs. Calvin Kattar)
 * Most significant body strikes landed in a fight in UFC Lightweight division history (62 vs. Justin Gaethje)
 * Most significant body strikes landed in a fight in UFC Featherweight division history (+117 vs. Calvin Kattar)
 * Third most significant body strikes landed in a fight in UFC Featherweight division history (+66 vs. Yair Rodriguez)
 * Most total strikes landed in a fight in UFC history (+447 vs Calvin Kattar)
 * Most total strikes landed in a fight in UFC featherweight division history (+447 vs Calvin Kattar)
 * Second most total strikes landed in a fight in UFC featherweight division history (+307 vs Brian Ortega)
 * Most total strikes attempted in a fight in UFC history (+746 vs. Calvin Kattar)
 * Most total strikes attempted in a UFC title fight (+407 vs Brian Ortega)
 * Most total strikes attempted in a fight in UFC Lightweight division history (+473 vs. Dustin Poirier 2)
 * Most total strikes attempted in a fight in UFC Featherweight division history (+746 vs. Calvin Kattar)
 * Second most total strikes attempted in a fight in UFC Featherweight division history (+507 vs. Brian Ortega)
 * Third most total strikes attempted in a fight in UFC Featherweight division history (+434 vs. Yair Rodriguez)
 * Third most total head strikes landed in a fight in UFC history (+274 vs. Calvin Kattar)
 * Fourth most total head strikes landed in a fight in UFC history (+254 vs. Brian Ortega)
 * Most total head strikes landed in a fight in UFC Featherweight division history (+274 vs. Calvin Kattar)
 * Second most total head strikes landed in a fight in UFC Featherweight division history (+254 vs. Brian Ortega)
 * Most leg kicks landed in a fight in UFC Lightweight division history (+57 vs. Justin Gaethje)
 * Most total body strikes landed in a fight in UFC history (+119 vs. Calvin Kattar)
 * Most significant strikes landed in a round in UFC history (+141 in Round 4 vs. Calvin Kattar)
 * Second most significant strikes landed in a round in UFC history (+134 in Round 4 vs. Brian Ortega)
 * Most significant strikes landed in a round in UFC Featherweight division history (+141 in Round 4 vs. Calvin Kattar)
 * Second most significant strikes landed in a round in UFC Featherweight division history (+134 in Round 4 vs. Brian Ortega)
 * Third most significant strikes landed in a round in UFC Featherweight division history (+108 in Round 3 vs. Jose Aldo 2)
 * Fourth most significant strikes landed in a round in UFC Featherweight division history (+89 in Round 2 vs. Calvin Kattar)
 * Second most significant strikes attempted in a round in UFC history (+204 in Round 3 vs. Jose Aldo 2)
 * Third most significant strikes attempted in a round in UFC history (+196 in Round 4 vs. Brian Ortega)
 * Fourth most significant strikes attempted in a round in UFC history (+191 in Round 4 vs. Calvin Kattar)
 * Most significant strikes attempted in a round in UFC Featherweight division history (+204 in Round 3 vs. Jose Aldo 2)
 * Second most significant strikes attempted in a round in UFC Featherweight division history (+196 in Round 4 vs. Brian Ortega)
 * Third most significant strikes attempted in a round in UFC Featherweight division history (+191 in Round 4 vs. Calvin Kattar)
 * Most total strikes landed in a round in UFC Featherweight division history (+141 in Round 4 vs. Brian Ortega)
 * Second most total strikes landed in a round in UFC Featherweight division history (+141 in Round 4 vs. Calvin Kattar)
 * Second most total strikes attempted in a round in UFC history (+212 in Round 3 vs. Jose Aldo 2)
 * Third most total strikes attempted in a round in UFC history (+203 in Round 4 vs. Brian Ortega)
 * Fourth most total strikes attempted in a round in UFC history (+191 in Round 4 vs. Calvin Kattar)
 * Most total strikes attempted in a round in UFC Featherweight division history (+212 in Round 3 vs. Jose Aldo 2)
 * Second most total strikes attempted in a round in UFC Featherweight division history (+203 in Round 4 vs. Brian Ortega)
 * Third most total strikes attempted in a round in UFC Featherweight division history (+191 in Round 4 vs. Calvin Kattar)
 * 2022 UFC Forrest Griffin Community Award
 * 2017 Fighter of the Year
 * X-1 World Events
 * X-1 Lightweight Championship (One time; former)
 * World MMA Awards
 * 2017 Charles 'Mask' Lewis Fighter of the Year
 * MMAMania.com
 * UFC/MMA 'Fighter of the Year' 2017 - Top 5 List #1
 * RealSport
 * 2017 Fighter of the Year
 * Pundit Arena
 * 2017 Fighter of the Year
 * MMAFighting.com
 * 2017 Fighter of the Year
 * BishopSportsNetwork.com
 * 2017 Fighter of the Year
 * MMADNA.nl
 * 2018 Performance of the Year vs. Brian Ortega
 * Sherdog
 * 2021 Beatdown of the Year vs. Calvin Kattar
 * MMAjunkie.com
 * 2023 April Fight of the Month vs. Arnold Allen