UFC 300: BMF Justin Gaethje Earns Max Holloway’s Ex-Rival Alexander Volkanovski’s Faith- “Going to Put 110%”

Published 02/06/2024, 11:33 PM EST

Alexander Volkanovski is up against Ilia Topuria at UFC 298. While the Australian is certain he’s going to show Topuria just how he became and stayed the champion, he’s less certain about the fate of his former opponent, Max Holloway. The former featherweight champio will be facing off against Justin Gaethje for the BMF title at the esteemed pay-per-view, UFC 300.

The fight makes it clear that for the time being, Holloway won’t be coming after ‘Volk’ who took his title away from him back in 2019. However, having fought Holloway multiple times, Volkanovski knows just how tough he can be to beat. So will he become the ‘Baddest Motherf*cker’ of the UFC by winning the BMF belt?

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Alexander Volkanovski rates Max Holloway’s chin

Alexander Volkanovski locked horns with Max Holloway on three separate occasions. Once at UFC 245 where he took Holloway’s belt away from him and then, during the rematch at UFC 251 in 2020. If that wasn’t enough, he once again defeated ‘Blessed’ at UFC 276 via a lopsided decision.

Fighting and winning over a veteran like Holloway only adds to the already lush inventory of experience that Volkanovski has sitting in his back pocket. Now, Holloway has decided to let go of his featherweight belt dream and go after the BMF belt instead. Ahead of the fight against the heavy-hitting Justin Gaethje ‘Volk’ was all praise for the Hawaiian’s iron chin.

“I think Max’s chin is just legendary, trust me, I’ve been trying to bl*ody crack that thing for how long now,” Volkanovski said in a recent conversation with David Adesanya. “. . . if anyone can do it, it is someone like Gaethje, a heavier division and someone that you know is going to put 110% into shots that are there you know . . . it’s going to be interesting. I’m really looking forward to it. If I had to lean towards someone, probably Gaethje,” ‘The Great’ said.

Perhaps defeating him three times was enough for Volkanovski to assess the weaknesses and strengths of Holloway. Of course, he didn’t end his thought there. He noted that Holloway would show up to the fight like no other and will give Gaethje a run for his money. The self-proclaimed ‘best boxer in the UFC’ is certainly a good match for Gaethje himself. But is Ilia Topuria going to show similar grit against ‘Volk’?

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Topuria could be in for a long night against ‘The Great’

Ilia Topuria has amazing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills and his grappling is top-notch but is it good enough to win him the 145 lbs title at UFC 298? Alexander Volkanovski most recently suffered a loss for the second time against the wrestler that is Islam Makhachev. However, it has been an interesting two losses, with the first being a decision loss and the second being a knockout.

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Does this mean it’s difficult to hold down and submit Volkanovski? He told Adesanya how Topuria’s expectations are going to fall flat at UFC 298. ‘El Matador’ has told the world how he has something to prove and how he’s not where he is without being just that good. But his challenge is also a champion who has reigned supreme for over 1500 days and defended his title many times during that duration. Will the fight be as one-sided as ‘Volk’ expects? we will find out in a few days.

UFC 298: Islam Makhachev’s Victory Over Alexander Volkanovski Gets No Special Attention From Ilia Topuria as He Touts His Unbeaten Status- “So He Has the Belt”

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Written by:

I'm Prit Chauhan, and I'm a UFC writer at EssentiallySports. I've been in the writing business for three years, covering areas like mass media marketing, and even tried my hand at fiction. My experience includes research work at the University of California, Berkeley, which helps me spin fact-based stories about the world of Mixed Martial Arts effortlessly.

Edited by:

Yeswanth Praveen

UFC 300: BMF Justin Gaethje Earns Max Holloway’s Ex-Rival Alexander Volkanovski’s Faith- “Going to Put 110%”

Alexander Volkanovski rates Max Holloway’s chin

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Topuria could be in for a long night against ‘The Great’