ABU DHABI – Max Holloway misplaced by knockout for the primary time in his profession Saturday at UFC 308, however by no means did it change his typical means of dealing with defeats with grace.
Shortly after his third-round defeat to Ilia Topuria, Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) took the rostrum backstage at Etihad Enviornment to discipline questions from reporters. As Holloway spoke, it appeared he’d already separated the emotion of the second from his evaluation.
“I felt nice. I used to be discovering my groove,” Holloway advised MMA Junkie and different reporters. “You noticed on the scoreboards after, I used to be type of stunned. I believed I had at the very least certainly one of them. Within the first spherical, I do know he took me down. Then on the ending he had that takedown. It’s what it’s. It felt good displaying off my fingers. I used to be touchdown. I used to be transferring quick. I feel I had him stunned in there. Like I mentioned, I used to be doing nicely till I wasn’t. … Sport of inches, man. Sport of inches. He landed one thing that I discovered myself him, up from the bottom. It’s what it’s.”
Holloway mentioned his weight minimize was certainly one of his finest at featherweight, however a shift to light-weight may nonetheless be so as. The failed title bid Saturday was his fourth featherweight title combat loss in a row. Holloway is allured by the clearer paths to gold, brisker matchups, and lesser weight minimize at 155 kilos.
“We’re all going to sit down down with the staff, calm down. There’s nothing wanted to be dashing again to proper now. However I can attempt coming again in the summertime, the massive July card, proper, in Vegas? Do one thing. We’ll see what occurs. I imply, 155 seems actually good proper now. … Like I mentioned, I had one of the best 145 minimize right here. However what else is there to do? I had a pair occasions to reclaim it. New guys arising. Yeah, that’d be enjoyable. However I feel 155 seems extra enjoyable, preventing extra, the caliber, everybody there, and the names there, it seems actually thrilling to place my title within the combine.”
After all of the questions had been requested, Holloway thanked media members within the room – and in addition took it upon himself to go away them with one final parting message.
“You guys are going to see me again,” Holloway mentioned. “It’s not a funeral. I promise.”
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