Max Holloway has suggested a BMF title fight with Justin Gaethje, expressing his respect for Gaethje and his disdain for the increasing trash talk in the sport, emphasizing the importance of letting one’s fighting skills speak for themselves.
Max Holloway, the MMA fighter, had a hunch. He proposed a BMF title fight with Justin Gaethje, months before UFC 300. He was betting on the chance it might happen.
Ilia Topuria was already the No. 1 contender in the featherweight division at that time. Meanwhile, lightweight champ Islam Makhachev was set to face Charles Oliveira.
This left Holloway and Gaethje as the odd ones out. Hence, the idea of a fight between them was born.
Holloway’s take on this? “If that’s not the definition of a BMF, then I don’t know what is.” He told MMA Fighting, “Justin Gaethje is it.”
He was thrilled when Gaethje accepted the offer. Even if it meant risking a potential lightweight title shot.
“I was just as surprised, too,” Holloway admitted. “They made Charles’ fight a No. 1 contender, which is kind of mind-blowing. But we’ll see what happens. I’m excited.”
Holloway respects Gaethje for many reasons. One being a scheduled fight in Denver; Holloway needed a place to train after someone flaked on him. Gaethje stepped up, and they became fast friends.
Fast forward ten years, Holloway now aims to beat Gaethje and take his BMF title. But it’s all in good spirit.
He called for a match against “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung previously. It was a fight that didn’t need any fake beef or bad blood to get people interested.
Holloway is irked by the escalating trash talk in the MMA scene. Fighters like Colby Covington, Sean Strickland, and Dricus du Plessis have initiated ugly exchanges.
“This generation, I’ve been saying it all the way coming up to The Korean Zombie [fight], fighting guys like Korean Zombie, fighting guys like Justin Gaethje, we’re the last of a dying breed,” Holloway said. “We don’t need the s*** talking.”
He believes that fighters should let their fighting do the talking. Some people are crossing the line lately, he says. “It’s just not cool.”
Holloway has never made a derogatory comment about an opponent. He’s not interested in verbal wars, even against trash talkers like Conor McGregor.
Words matter, Holloway knows. Spewing hate at an opponent won’t make him fight better or help his brand.
“It’s not helping,” Holloway said. “A lot of guys in the sport are like, ‘Why can’t we get this sponsor? Why is the NFL or NBA, MLB, they’re comparing us to other sports leagues that’s huge.’ I’m like brother, do you see anybody talking wild like that or stepping over the line saying s***? If you want those [deals], you’ve got to carry yourself a certain way.”
Despite MMA’s mainstream acceptance, Holloway remembers the uphill battle for respect. MMA was once called “human cockfighting.” He knows UFC athletes are often viewed differently than NFL or NBA players.
Holloway doesn’t mind fighters talking crazy for attention. But there are always repercussions. And that backlash can last forever.
“A lot of guys got to understand with us being mixed martial artists, it’s super hard,” he said. “We’re already behind. We’ve got to be a little bit extra smart about certain stuff. It is what it is.”
“People are going to push their narrative, push what they want to do. I ain’t got nothing against it, but that’s just not for me. It doesn’t kick it with me. At the end of the day, if you want to do that, that’s cool, I ain’t hating on you, but stop asking why am I not getting this, this and this. It’s because you’re doing this.”