Max Holloway is a man who has always known he is Blessed.
Stepping into the Octagon this weekend to take on Alexander Volkanovski in an attempt to regain his UFC Featherweight crown, he knows it more than ever.
Amid a global pandemic that has killed more than half a million people around the world, Holloway will return to work on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, and potentially rise to the top of his division once again.
But, at the forefront of his mind, are those less fortunate.
Those who are suffering in terms of health or finance as we all struggle to come to terms with the life-altering circumstances many find themselves in.
On top of the work he has been doing to help those in his native Hawaii, Holloway had already announced he will auction off his fight gear to raise funds for those less fortunate.
But, when the opening bell sounds on Sunday morning local time, the 28-year-old has something bigger on his mind than a UFC title.
“With this fight, I hope it can take people away from their problems at little bit,” he said.
“Enjoy the fight, enjoy the whole event and get lost in it a little bit. It’s a little relief, a little break. These time are hard, this pandemic is super-serious, it’s super-crazy. However long the fight it, 25-minutes or one minute, if I can brighten your day, and take you away from everything that is happening in the world right now that would be a win – a big win. One bigger than actually winning this fight to be honest.”
Much has been made in the build-up of Holloway’s inability to spar during camp, and the bulk of his training on Zoom.
Now he must step into the Octagon against one of only two men to beat him in the last six years.
Volkanovski completed a rapid ascent to the top of 145lbs division by defeating Holloway last December via unanimous decision, but the Blessed one says he is ready to take things out of the judges’ hands this time around.
Holloway is now keen for the chirping from Volkanovski’s camp to stop, and the real action to begin.
“I like to think I’m a different breed,” he said. “I can fight words but we get to find out at the end of the week so I am excited. I am going to go out there, do my thing and have fun. A wise man once said don’t leave it to the judges they only make you cry so that’s in my mind. My minds says go out there and if it is a decision then it’s a decision again, but I want a finish. It’s been a while since I had a finish so that would be good fun.”
