:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51970727/018_Max_Holloway.0.jpeg)
It doesn't appear that Max Holloway will be taking up with Jenny McCarthy anytime soon.
The featherweight contender is riding a nine-fight winning streak which has positioned him as No. 3 in the UFC rankings and have him tied for the record of most consecutive wins without receiving a title shot, an ignominious distinction he shares with Tony Ferguson. Holloway has the chance to break that tie at UFC 206 when he faces former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis in the co-main event.
But should he win that fight, and set the new record at 10 wins, Holloway doesn't have his eyes set on the featherweight title but rather the interim champ. Speaking with RJ Clifford on SiriusXM Rush's Toe-2-Toe, Holloway discussed his future plans in the featherweight division and his hope that interim champion Jose Aldo will fight him.
"After this fight everything to my agenda is let me know if Aldo found that f**king vaccine for that f**king pussy-itis he got. That motherf**ker been running. So tell him he can't run for much longer. Tell him a Hawaiian is coming and I'm creeping. Tell him to be ready."
Aldo kicked up the ire of Holloway back in September when he requested his release from the UFC due to frustrations with the promotion and his inability to get a rematch with Conor McGregor after getting brutally knocked out by the now two-division champion. With McGregor showing no sign of defending the actual featherweight title, Holloway wanted a shot at Aldo's interim and felt, as champion, Aldo should have to fight him. Now with McGregor owning two belts and looking at taking six months off for the birth of his first child, Holloway says eyeing McGregor wouldn't be realistic at this point.
"The obvious thing is I would love to fight Conor McGregor. We've got some history there and he won and people saying he didn't knock me out because of an injury he had. I was injured in the fight too so let's test that theory, I want to test that theory. But being realistic, there's a guy with an interim title inside our division. That'd be f**kin' wild if the UFC let me pass the interim title to fight for the real belt. I'm just being realistic, that's why I'm saying Aldo. And Conor's gonna be gone for a while too. They said he might not be fighting for a while."
It's a refreshing bit of pragmatism from one of the fighters who has suffered the most from the divisional traffic jam McGregor has created in his wake and one that many fighters don't share. Aldo and Khabib Nurmagomedov are chomping at the bit for a fight with McGregor and plenty of fighters have voiced their displeasure at the "favoritism" shown towards McGregor. But despite the fact that Holloway is possibly the most egregiously slighted according to traditional "meritocratic standards" isn't something he lets phase him.
"I have no control over it so why cry over spilled milk? You spill milk, are you gonna try and mop it up and squeeze the mop back into the carton? No, you mop that s**t up and you move on. I'm not gonna cry about something I have no control over. It is what it is. I'm gonna keep showing the world what I deserve...and they can't be denying me for much longer. All I have to do is keeping on focusing on what Max Holloway does and that's winning and winning fashionably."
His next opportunity to "win fashionably" is on Dec. 10 when he and the sixth-ranked Pettis lock horns. And though Holloway has already done more than enough to earn a title shot and could sit on the sidelines like Demian Maia and wait for his bite at the apple, he remains adamant that's not what a champion does.
"I ain't making no excuses. Everybody is like, 'oh you deserve a title shot, you should wait.' If you're waiting then you don't believe you're the best guy in the world. I believe I'm the best guy in the world. Pettis has a lot of value to his name. He's a former champion. Motherf**ker's on a Wheaties box so that's pretty big. He has a huge name and I look forward to the challenge."
MUST-READ STORIES
Difference maker. Nick Diaz believes he would have been the difference had he been allowed in the corner of Nate Diaz at UFC 202.
Free Agency. Justin Gaethje is planning on testing free agency after his WSOF deal runs out.
Staying light. Thiago Alves was suspended three months for missing weight at UFC 205.
Appeal. Kelvin Gastelum is appealing his NYSAC suspension.
Ultimatum. Mark Hunt plans to issue the UFC ultimatum after Brock Lesnar's NAC hearing.
Education. Lyoto Machida says USADA didn't educate him properly and that is why he was unaware the drug he took was on the banned substance list.
EXTRA CREDIT READING
Baby break. Chuck Mindenhall talks about Conor McGregor's next move.
MEDIA STEW
You know the card ain't good when this is the free fight they're posting.
Khabib probably gonna need that plan B.
Kovalev riding for Khabib is dope.
Fierce arm chair psychology here
Cyborg and Amy Schumer.
Cro Cop looking mighty swoll here.
LISTEN UP
Fight Society.
Anik and Flo
TWEETS
nazis are pussies.
— Coach (@CMPunk) November 22, 2016
This is unsettling.
— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) November 23, 2016
So much for Bisping taking the holidays off.
If the rumors are true, I'll be hosting a retirement party on 1/21 @bisping #ynuevo
— Yoel Romero (@YoelRomeroMMA) November 22, 2016
TK got his call out game on.
@SpiderAnderson I know it's been a minute since you won a fight. I might be an easy match up. Bad wrestling, horrible striking. #ufc206 ?
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) November 22, 2016
Ballsy, that's for sure.
@BrockLesnar #ufc206 needs you. I won't beat you up too bad. You could even do some hunting in Canada after the fight.
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) November 22, 2016
@vitorbelfort #ufc206 needs another flight. I'll even do a catchweight to compensate for your dad body? #postUSADA
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) November 22, 2016
@patrick_cote hey how is the weather up there(said in Canadian accent)? Wanted to see if you were interested in getting on the Toronto card?
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) November 22, 2016
TK can't catch a break.
Weather suck !! Ass freezing .. thanks for asking but just got elbow surgery so i'm out for a couple months ... Bad timing !! https://t.co/jtl9AKiNLn
— patrick cote (@patrick_cote) November 22, 2016
I wish it wasn't.
ITS 4 REAL :) WHATS UP TIM!! @ufc https://t.co/j1NAFXCLzq
— BJ Penn (@bjpenndotcom) November 22, 2016
Have you seen the card this weekend? Why not?
Really ? https://t.co/G4bprHEpEf
— phil baroni (@philbaroni) November 22, 2016
My paperwork will all be submitted by tomorrow, then it's up to the commission todo what's right and give me my fight back..#2 #rematch
— tonya evinger (@tonyaevinger) November 22, 2016
Stipe looks tiny.
Just a couple of dudes at @TOWNHALLOHC #FeedTheNeed event with incredible facial hair. @joethomas73pic.twitter.com/qtkCA0ZHjl
— Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocicufc) November 23, 2016
The tweet that started a groundswell. Johny unliked that thing though so if you missed it, you'll have to find it elsewhere.
Had to take my dog on a walk in the country pic.twitter.com/liqaXtzdtp
— Johny Hendricks (@JohnyHendricks) November 22, 2016
Respect pic.twitter.com/51XLAKiA3E
— KarolinaKowalkiewicz (@KarolinaMMA) November 22, 2016
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Ralek Gracie (3-0) vs. Hisaki Kato (7-2); Bellator 170, January 21.
Andre Harrison (14-0) vs. Bruce Boyington (14-9); WSOF 34, December 31.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Max Holloway beats any featherweight on the planet, including McGregor. Fight me.
That's all folks. Enjoy your Thanksgiving for all you Americans and see you on Friday.
If you find something you'd like to see in the Morning Report, just hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and let me know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting because we post dope things and you should enjoy them.
Get the latest gear
