Following weeks of negative press in relation to UFC 206, the main event switch and interim featherweight title hullabaloo, not only did the pay-per-view main card deliver in spades but we witnessed the coming out party for the new 145lb interim champion Max Holloway.
After Anthony Pettis failed to make the championship weight limit on Friday, Holloway made him pay in spades in Toronto. He took the best striking Pettis had to offer, ate them up and delivered his own barrage of technical boxing skills which culminated in a late third round stoppage to become the new UFC interim champ.
Setting up a unification bout with full UFC featherweight champion, José Aldo, Holloway wasted no time in calling out the Brazilian during his post-fight interview. “We’re trying to fight Aldo, so I thought I’d call him Waldo – José Waldo,” Holloway said.
“Hashtag Jose Waldo, and tell him meet me in Brooklyn in February. Let’s get the real one! This is my ticket to José Waldo. Let me know when you guys find him. I’ll be waiting.”
While Holloway’s idea of fighting Aldo in Brooklyn, New York at UFC 208 on February 11th might have initially appeared a good idea in the heat of the moment, once the adrenalin had settled in the post-fight press conference he revealed second thoughts.
“I don’t want to give up my son’s birthday and Christmas for February 11th, and (Aldo) don’t show up,” Holloway added. “This guy has a knack for not showing up to the fights. I’ve got to talk to Dana White first, man. I’ve got a brunch. I want to sit down with him and Sean Shelby, and we can talk some business.
“Like I said, this is my golden ticket. For all I know, that motherf**ker (Aldo) is always getting hurt and pulling out. This might as well have been the true belt. Most true fans know the story.”
And if anyone had ideas of Holloway calling out for a big money fight with Conor McGregor then thinking again as had a nice line for that potential rematch.
“I ain’t over here begging for fights,” he finished. “If (McGregor) wants to fight me, he can come fight me. You’ve got so many guys begging on their knees to fight him. If he wants to fight me, he can come see me. If you want to fight the best, you come fight ‘Blessed.’”
