Max Holloway

Jerome Max Keliʻi Holloway, born December 4, 1991, is an American professional mixed martial artist competing in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is a former UFC Featherweight Champion and a former symbolic UFC "BMF" titleholder. Widely recognized for his striking capabilities, Holloway holds the UFC records for the most significant strikes and total strikes landed in promotional history.

Holloway was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and raised in Waiʻanae. He is of Native Hawaiian and Samoan descent. Raised in a challenging domestic environment, he lost contact with his father at around age 11. Holloway began training in kickboxing in 2007 at the age of 15 with Team Ruthless, winning his first amateur bout after three days of preparation. He graduated from Waiʻanae High School in 2010.

Holloway began his professional mixed martial arts career under the nickname "Lil Evil" before adopting the moniker "Blessed." By age 19, he had compiled a 4–0 record and won the lightweight title for the Hawaii-based X-1 promotion in 2011. In February 2012, as the youngest fighter on the UFC roster, he made his promotional debut at UFC 143 against Dustin Poirier, losing via first-round submission.

Following his debut, Holloway launched an extensive winning streak. In December 2016, he defeated Anthony Pettis at UFC 206 to capture the interim UFC Featherweight Championship. He unified the title at UFC 212 in June 2017 by defeating José Aldo via third-round TKO. Holloway successfully defended his featherweight championship in a rematch against Aldo, as well as in bouts against Brian Ortega and Frankie Edgar, before losing the title to Alexander Volkanovski in December 2019.

In subsequent years, Holloway maintained his position at the top of the sport, earning notable victories over Calvin Kattar, Yair Rodríguez, and Arnold Allen. Moving up to the lightweight division at UFC 300 in April 2024, Holloway captured the symbolic UFC "BMF" belt by knocking out Justin Gaethje in the final second of the fifth round.

After a featherweight title attempt against Ilia Topuria, Holloway announced a permanent move to the lightweight division. He successfully defended his "BMF" title against Dustin Poirier at UFC 318 before losing it to Charles Oliveira at UFC 326. Holloway later returned to defeat Conor McGregor in a welterweight rematch at UFC 329. Over his career, Holloway established numerous UFC featherweight records, including the most wins, finishes, knockout victories, and the longest winning streak in the division's history.