Max Holloway isn’t displaying as much as UFC 318 to be on the receiving finish of Dustin Poirier’s remaining victory.
The previous featherweight titleholder, and present “BMF” champion defends towards Poirier of their third assembly in the principle occasion of the UFC’s July 19 pay-per-view in Poirier’s yard of New Orleans.
Poirier holds two wins over Holloway up to now, together with a choice victory in a basic at UFC 236 to win the interim light-weight belt. Holloway believes Poirier’s residence followers—and MMA followers typically—may not get the blissful ending they need.
“I’ve the chance to be his retirement struggle,” Holloway mentioned on his YouTube channel. “I do know he’s attempting to trip off into the sundown… he can go and do this, however it may be slightly unhappy as a result of I wish to go on the market and get my hand raised.”
In his most up-to-date bout, Holloway was knocked out for the primary time in a struggle by Ilia Topuria at UFC 308 this previous October. “Blessed” made a everlasting transfer to light-weight following the loss, and with Topuria and Charles Oliveira—each previous opponents—about to battle for the vacant light-weight title at UFC 317, Holloway sees a technique to lower the road to the winner if issues go his manner.
“The message that I’m attempting to ship is that I’m nonetheless right here,” Holloway mentioned. “I do know that is Dustin’s retirement struggle, however his final struggle was for a title. I nonetheless have title [contention] in my thoughts, and a few weeks earlier than us, there’s a title struggle at 155 and I acquired historical past with each males.
“On the finish of the day, I am going on the market, I do my factor, I make a press release, I get a press release win, who’s to say your boy isn’t combating for [the lightweight] undisputed title on the finish of the yr?
“Very first thing’s first: Dustin Poirier. I’m not [overlooking] him. That is his retirement struggle. He’s taking it critical. Everyone retains reminding me that [he’s up] 2-0. Everyone on the web, in every single place is saying, ‘Why?’ And I’m going to point out you why, I’m going to point out you why I acquired this struggle. I’m going to point out the followers why they wish to see this struggle.
“I’m right here to spoil his plans and get my hand raised as a result of I’m nonetheless going to be right here when he’s using off into the sundown. I’m nonetheless going to be right here, I nonetheless wish to go and get an undisputed title, so I acquired to go on the market and make a press release.”
