Max Holloway doubts he can overtake Alex Pereira for Fighter of the Year after Ilia Topuria win at UFC 308

Fiery "Chama" or rather "Blessed": After Best ESPY 2024 snub, Brazil's Alex Pereira could be FOTY candidate even if Max Holloway takes the war to Ilia Topuria at UFC 308 pay-per-view.

Max Holloway doubts he can overtake Alex Pereira for Fighter of the Year after Ilia Topuria win at UFC 308

Alex Pereira more likely for FOTY, says UFC 308's Max Holloway (Source: X/IMAGO)

Max Holloway’s answer to the question about his potential Fighter of the Year candidacy was honest. He challenges gold at the UFC 308 (ESPN+ pay-per-view) top bill at the Etihad Arena, Yas Island. At the end of this week, should he win against Ilia Topuria, he would have made a clear case for the top spot. However, there remains the biggest baggage in his way—Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira.

Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) kicked off his 2024 season in the milestone April pay-per-view event. His buzzer-beating overhand KO won him the “BMF” title at 155 lbs. However, later that night, stone-hand Pereira defended his 205-pound gold with a similar shock shovel hook. If Holloway can pull off another upset vs. Topuria and win back his featherweight title, he will certainly be in the running. He thinks not over Pereira though.

I mean, I don’t know, man, …I don’t know if they would do [Fighter of the Year for me]. The way Alex took fights – he’s the fastest guy to defend his title, right, with three title defenses…That’s a hard man to beat. Every time I’m in the talks for it, somebody’s having a crazy year. I think Alex Pereira has got the win in the bag already.

Max Holloway to MMA columnist Kevin lole for his YT Channel (@KevinIole)
YouTube video

Subsequently, he is not that wrong. Pereira went through three quick camps and successful bids for UFC 300, 303, and 307 and only opted for some rest now. He set the shortest time for consecutive title defenses at 175 days, and [3] highest among current champs. He has run through five former champs and is 5-0 at 205. The Brazilian, now out of Connecticut, is a top pay-per-view spotlight option on global ESPN platforms.

FS Video

Holloway is the reigning BMF champion. He is also ranked as a UFC lightweight after defeating Justin Gaethje, so he has options. “Blessed” made the gimmicky BMF tint a real one with his warrior-esque performance, as did Gaethje. Dutch MMA promotion Levels Fight League implemented a “Max Point Throwdown” bonus of $5000 allocated after his gimmick. Come UFC 308, that stock into him can go up 10-fold. He is sure of that.

RELATED
Max Holloway advices fighters to be a ‘BMF’ when mimicking his move
Max Holloway

Max Holloway confident he’ll make 145lbs for UFC 308 title fight

Ilia Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) won his 145-pound gold over former UFC top pound-for-pound Alexander Volkanovski. 0-3 against Volk, many envision Max Holloway to meet a similar fate. Just like Max, ‘El Matador’ wears his boxing output in pockets, up his sleeve. Currently more pronounced at featherweight, the Alicante-Gergian even thinks he can submit the rival.

Max Holloway ready for Ilia Topuria
Max Holloway ready for Ilia Topuria (Source: ibtimes.com/IMAGO)

In his first go at lightweight in April 2019, ex-interim champ Dustin Poirier edged him out (49-46, 49–46, 49-46) by far. Holloway returned to the convoluted 155 scenes in much better attire this April. His gas tank to perform at the tail end of a 5-round affair was on display. However, he is once again back down a division.

The whole question before the last fight was the weight, and now the whole question about this fight is the weight because of what we did in the last fight. But it is what it is. I got the best person behind me. I got my wife, she’s chefing it up, and I got my man Tyler Minton back on the team…I’ve never missed weight. I’ve never missed no weight in my whole career, and I ain’t planning on starting.

Max Holloway via his YT channel
YouTube video

Consequently, a +220 underdog on DraftKings, Holloway, though, is fed up with “weight cut” talks for his UFC 308 top bill on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Wearing the “Topuria” brand name on the same levels as buyout king Conor McGregor, the Spaniard is incorporating big changes too.

For one, his cutting-edge home gym with hyperbaric cold chambers and custom fight prep kits is one for ages. Case in point: UFC APEX has its own Stratosphere ATC hyperbaric cold chamber to condition fighters at different altitudes as well as pressure. There’s also his new and improved Team Climent Club MMA camp for his title defense.

RELATED
Daniel Cormier praises Ilia Topuria for ‘very smart’ approach in one-on-one barbs with Max Holloway
Daniel Cormier says Ilia Topuria has Max Holloway on the ropes with his disses

Additionally, for another, Holloway isn’t wobble-free. Gaethje did down him during their fight. But with that not registering as touching flat on an isometric plane, his stats stayed the same. Topuria, 27, and his speedy 3-piece combo take care of all. Holloway is yet in the best shape he has ever been at 145; the question remains if he can bank on it.