Max Holloway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Max Holloway |
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Holloway in 2022
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| Born | Jerome Max Keli'i Holloway December 4, 1991 Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Other names | Blessed |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Weight | 155 lb (70 kg; 11 st 1 lb) |
| Division | Featherweight (2012–2024) Lightweight (2010–2011, 2019, 2024-present) |
| Reach | 69 in (175 cm) |
| Fighting out of | Waianae, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Team | Gracie Technics |
| Rank | Brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Rylan Lizares |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 35 |
| Wins | 27 |
| By knockout | 12 |
| By submission | 2 |
| By decision | 13 |
| Losses | 8 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 6 |
| Amateur mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 6 |
| Wins | 5 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Losses | 1 |
| By decision | 1 |
Jerome Max Keli'i Holloway (born December 4, 1991) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Max is a former UFC Featherweight Champion. He also holds the special UFC "BMF" title belt. Many people think he is one of the best Featherweight fighters ever. As of July 22, 2025, he is ranked #4 in the UFC lightweight division.
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Max Holloway's Early Life
Max Holloway was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. He grew up in Waianae, an area known for tough street fighting. Max has Hawaiian and Samoan family roots. He started training in kickboxing when he was 15 years old in 2007. After only three days of training, he won his first amateur fight! He finished high school at Waianae High School in 2010.
Max Holloway's MMA Journey
Starting His MMA Career
When Max was 19, he had a great start with four wins and no losses. Experts in the sport noticed him. They even compared him to famous fighters because of his exciting moves. He used many different kicks, knees, and elbows in his fights. One big win early on was against Harris Sarmiento in 2011. This win helped him earn a championship belt in a local Hawaiian fighting group called X-1.
Joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship
First Fights in the UFC
Max Holloway was the youngest fighter in the UFC when he joined in 2012. His first UFC fight was at UFC 143 against Dustin Poirier. He lost this fight by a submission move in the first round. A submission is when a fighter uses a hold to make their opponent give up.
After that, Max won his next two fights. He beat Pat Schilling by a unanimous decision. This means all the judges agreed he won. Then, he defeated Justin Lawrence by TKO in the second round. TKO stands for "Technical Knockout," which means the referee stops the fight because one fighter can't safely continue.
Max also won a close fight against Leonard Garcia by a split decision. This means the judges didn't all agree, but most thought he won. He then had two losses, one against Dennis Bermudez and another against Conor McGregor.
Amazing Win Streak and Title Shot
After his losses, Max Holloway went on an incredible winning streak. He won many fights in a row!
- In 2014, he beat Will Chope by TKO. He also earned a "Knockout of the Night" bonus for this win.
- He won against Andre Fili by submission.
- Max continued his winning ways, beating Clay Collard and Akira Corassani. His knockout of Corassani earned him a "Performance of the Night" bonus.
- He then defeated Cole Miller and Cub Swanson. The win against Swanson earned him another "Performance of the Night" bonus.
- In 2015, he beat Charles Oliveira when Oliveira got injured during the fight. This win made Max the youngest fighter in UFC history to get 10 wins!
- He also won against Jeremy Stephens and Ricardo Lamas.
Becoming Interim and Unified Featherweight Champion
Max Holloway fought Anthony Pettis for the interim UFC Featherweight Championship in December 2016. An interim title is a temporary championship belt. Max won this fight by TKO and earned another "Performance of the Night" bonus.
Then, in June 2017, Max fought the actual Featherweight Champion, José Aldo. This fight was to unify the titles, meaning to decide who the true champion was. Max defeated Aldo by TKO and became the undisputed UFC Featherweight Champion! This exciting fight also earned him a "Fight of the Night" bonus.
Defending His Title and Moving Up in Weight
After becoming champion, Max signed a new deal with the UFC. He defended his Featherweight title against José Aldo again in December 2017, winning by TKO.
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In 2018, Max tried to fight for the Lightweight Championship, a heavier weight class. He was supposed to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov, but he had to pull out because of problems with cutting weight quickly.
Later that year, Max defended his Featherweight title against Brian Ortega at UFC 231. Max won by TKO after the doctor stopped the fight. This amazing performance earned him both "Fight of the Night" and "Performance of the Night" awards. He also set new records for the most strikes landed in a UFC fight!
In 2019, Max moved up to Lightweight again to fight Dustin Poirier for the interim Lightweight Championship. He lost this tough fight by unanimous decision, but it was still named "Fight of the Night."
Max then returned to Featherweight and successfully defended his title against Frankie Edgar at UFC 240. This was his third successful title defense.
Post-Championship Fights and Trilogy Bouts
In December 2019, Max faced Alexander Volkanovski for the Featherweight Championship. He lost the fight by unanimous decision, ending his time as champion.
He had a rematch with Volkanovski in July 2020, but lost again by a split decision. Many people, including UFC president Dana White, thought Max should have won this fight.
In January 2021, Max had an incredible performance against Calvin Kattar. He won by unanimous decision, dominating the fight. During the fight, Max even talked to the commentators while dodging punches, showing off his amazing boxing skills! This fight set many new UFC striking records for Max and earned "Fight of the Night."
Max continued to win, beating Yair Rodríguez in November 2021 in another "Fight of the Night" performance.
He fought Alexander Volkanovski for a third time in July 2022 for the Featherweight Championship. Max lost this fight by unanimous decision.
In 2023, Max won two more fights. He beat Arnold Allen by unanimous decision and then knocked out Jung Chan-sung in the third round, earning another "Fight of the Night" award.
Winning the BMF Title and Lightweight Return
On April 13, 2024, Max Holloway moved up to the Lightweight division to fight Justin Gaethje for the symbolic UFC 'BMF' (Baddest Motherf***er) belt. Max won this special championship by a knockout in the very last second of the fifth round! This knockout was one of the most shocking and greatest in UFC history. He earned huge bonuses for "Performance of the Night" and "Fight of the Night."
In October 2024, Max fought Ilia Topuria for the UFC Featherweight Championship but lost by knockout. This was the first time Max had ever been knocked out in his career.
In February 2025, Max announced he would stay in the Lightweight division permanently. He then defended his symbolic 'BMF' belt against Dustin Poirier in a third fight between them on July 19, 2025. Max won this fight by unanimous decision.
Max Holloway's Personal Life
Max Holloway married Kaimana Pa'aluhi in 2012, and they have one son. They later divorced in 2017. In 2020, Max started dating professional surfer Alessa Quizon, and they got married on April 16, 2022.
Max Holloway's Achievements
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Max Holloway's Mixed Martial Arts Record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 35 matches | 27 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 12 | 1 |
| By submission | 2 | 1 |
| By decision | 13 | 6 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
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| Win | 27–8 | Dustin Poirier | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 318 | July 19, 2025 | 5 | 5:00 | New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | Returned to Lightweight. Defended the symbolic "BMF" title. |
| Loss | 26–8 | Ilia Topuria | KO (punches) | UFC 308 | October 26, 2024 | 3 | 1:34 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | For the UFC Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 26–7 | Justin Gaethje | KO (punch) | UFC 300 | April 13, 2024 | 5 | 4:59 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Lightweight fight. Won the symbolic UFC BMF belt. Performance of the Night. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 25–7 | Jung Chan-sung | KO (punch) | UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie | August 26, 2023 | 3 | 0:23 | Kallang, Singapore | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 24–7 | Arnold Allen | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Holloway vs. Allen | April 15, 2023 | 5 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | |
| Loss | 23–7 | Alexander Volkanovski | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 276 | July 2, 2022 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | For the UFC Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 23–6 | Yair Rodríguez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Rodríguez | November 13, 2021 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 22–6 | Calvin Kattar | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar | January 16, 2021 | 5 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Fight of the Night. |
| Loss | 21–6 | Alexander Volkanovski | Decision (split) | UFC 251 | July 12, 2020 | 5 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | For the UFC Featherweight Championship. |
| Loss | 21–5 | Alexander Volkanovski | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 245 | December 14, 2019 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Lost the UFC Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 21–4 | Frankie Edgar | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 240 | July 27, 2019 | 5 | 5:00 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | Defended the UFC Featherweight Championship. |
| Loss | 20–4 | Dustin Poirier | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 236 | April 13, 2019 | 5 | 5:00 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | For the interim UFC Lightweight Championship. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 20–3 | Brian Ortega | TKO (doctor stoppage) | UFC 231 | December 8, 2018 | 4 | 5:00 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Defended the UFC Featherweight Championship. Performance of the Night. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 19–3 | José Aldo | TKO (punches) | UFC 218 | December 2, 2017 | 3 | 4:51 | Detroit, Michigan, United States | Defended the UFC Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 18–3 | José Aldo | TKO (punches) | UFC 212 | June 3, 2017 | 3 | 4:13 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Won and unified the UFC Featherweight Championship. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 17–3 | Anthony Pettis | TKO (body kick and punches) | UFC 206 | December 10, 2016 | 3 | 4:50 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Won the interim UFC Featherweight Championship. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 16–3 | Ricardo Lamas | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 199 | June 4, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Inglewood, California, United States | |
| Win | 15–3 | Jeremy Stephens | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 194 | December 12, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 14–3 | Charles Oliveira | TKO (esophagus injury) | UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Oliveira | August 23, 2015 | 1 | 1:39 | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada | |
| Win | 13–3 | Cub Swanson | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC on Fox: Machida vs. Rockhold | April 18, 2015 | 3 | 3:58 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 12–3 | Cole Miller | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Thatch | February 14, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | |
| Win | 11–3 | Akira Corassani | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Story | October 4, 2014 | 1 | 3:11 | Stockholm, Sweden | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 10–3 | Clay Collard | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. dos Anjos | August 23, 2014 | 3 | 3:47 | Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States | Catchweight (149 lb) fight. |
| Win | 9–3 | Andre Fili | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC 172 | April 26, 2014 | 3 | 3:39 | Baltimore, Maryland, United States | |
| Win | 8–3 | Will Chope | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Saffiedine vs. Lim | January 4, 2014 | 2 | 2:27 | Marina Bay, Singapore | Knockout of the Night. |
| Loss | 7–3 | Conor McGregor | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen | August 17, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Loss | 7–2 | Dennis Bermudez | Decision (split) | UFC 160 | May 25, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 7–1 | Leonard Garcia | Decision (split) | UFC 155 | December 29, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 6–1 | Justin Lawrence | TKO (punches) | UFC 150 | August 11, 2012 | 2 | 4:49 | Denver, Colorado, United States | |
| Win | 5–1 | Pat Schilling | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter: Live Finale | June 1, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 4–1 | Dustin Poirier | Submission (triangle armbar) | UFC 143 | February 4, 2012 | 1 | 3:23 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Featherweight debut. |
| Win | 4–0 | Eddie Rincon | Decision (unanimous) | UIC 4: War on the Valley Isle | July 1, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Harris Sarmiento | Decision (split) | X-1 World Events 40 | March 12, 2011 | 5 | 5:00 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | Won the X-1 Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 2–0 | Bryson Kamaka | KO (punches) | X-1 World Events 37 | November 6, 2010 | 1 | 3:09 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Duke Saragosa | Decision (unanimous) | X-1 World Events 36 | September 11, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | Lightweight debut. |
Pay-Per-View Fights
| No | Event | Fight | Date | Venue | City | PPV buys |
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| 1 | UFC 206 | Holloway vs. Pettis | December 10, 2016 | Scotiabank Arena | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | 150,000 |
| 2. | UFC 212 | Aldo vs. Holloway | June 3, 2017 | Jeunesse Arena | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 200,000 |
| 3. | UFC 218 | Holloway vs. Aldo 2 | December 2, 2017 | Little Caesars Arena | Detroit, Michigan, United States | 230,000 |
| 4. | UFC 231 | Holloway vs. Ortega | December 8, 2018 | Scotiabank Arena | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | 300,000 |
| 5. | UFC 236 | Holloway vs. Poirier 2 | April 13, 2019 | State Farm Arena | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | 100,000 |
| 6. | UFC 240 | Holloway vs. Edgar | July 27, 2019 | Rogers Place | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | Not Disclosed |
| 7. | UFC 308 | Topuria vs. Holloway | October 26, 2024 | Etihad Arena | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Not Disclosed |
| 8. | UFC 318 | Holloway vs. Poirier 3 | July 19, 2025 | Smoothie King Center | New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | Not Disclosed |
See also
In Spanish: Max Holloway para niños
- List of current UFC fighters
- List of male mixed martial artists
- Ultimate Fighting Championship Pound for Pound rankings
