History of Max Holloway in Timeline
Jerome Max Kelii Holloway is an American professional mixed martial artist known for his career in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He has competed in the Featherweight and Lightweight divisions, holding the title of UFC Featherweight Champion and currently holding the UFC ‘BMF’ Championship. As of August 20, 2024, he is highly ranked in multiple UFC categories, including #2 in featherweight, #9 in lightweight, and #11 in men's pound-for-pound.
December 4, 1991: Birth of Max Holloway
Jerome Max Kelii Holloway was born on December 4, 1991.
2007: Start of Kickboxing Training
At the age of 15, Max Holloway began training kickboxing with Team Ruthless in 2007 and won his first amateur bout after only three days of training.
2010: Graduation from Waianae High School
Max Holloway graduated from Waianae High School in 2010.
March 12, 2011: Victory Over Harris Sarmiento for X-1 Lightweight Title
On March 12, 2011, Max Holloway secured a split decision win over experienced fighter Harris Sarmiento, winning the lightweight championship for the Hawaii-based X-1 promotion.
February 4, 2012: UFC Debut and Loss to Dustin Poirier
Max Holloway made his UFC debut at UFC 143 on February 4, 2012, as a last-minute replacement against Dustin Poirier. He lost the fight by submission in the first round.
June 1, 2012: Victory Against Pat Schilling at The Ultimate Fighter 15 Finale
On June 1, 2012, Max Holloway won his first UFC fight at The Ultimate Fighter 15 Finale, defeating Pat Schilling by unanimous decision.
August 11, 2012: TKO Victory Over Justin Lawrence at UFC 150
Max Holloway won his second consecutive UFC fight on August 11, 2012, at UFC 150, defeating Justin Lawrence by TKO in the second round.
December 29, 2012: Split Decision Win Against Leonard Garcia at UFC 155
Max Holloway, replacing an injured Cody McKenzie, won a close fight against Leonard Garcia via split decision at UFC 155 on December 29, 2012.
2012: Recognition as a Top Prospect and Comparison to Anthony Pettis
In 2012, Max Holloway was recognized as the #7 featherweight prospect in Bloody Elbow's World MMA Scouting Report. He was compared to former UFC and WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis for his dynamic striking style.
2012: Holloway Marries Kaimana Pa'aluhi
Max Holloway married his long-time girlfriend, Kaimana Pa'aluhi, in 2012.
May 25, 2013: Controversial Loss to Dennis Bermudez at UFC 160
Max Holloway lost a controversial fight against Dennis Bermudez via split decision at UFC 160 on May 25, 2013, despite the majority of media members scoring the bout in Holloway's favor.
August 17, 2013: Loss to Conor McGregor at UFC Fight Night 26
Max Holloway faced Conor McGregor on August 17, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 26, losing the fight by unanimous decision.
January 4, 2014: TKO Victory Over Will Chope and First Knockout of the Night Bonus at UFC Fight Night 34
Max Holloway defeated newcomer Will Chope via TKO in the second round at UFC Fight Night 34 on January 4, 2014, earning his first Knockout of the Night bonus.
April 26, 2014: Submission Victory Over Andre Fili at UFC 172
Max Holloway submitted Andre Fili in the third round of a back-and-forth fight at UFC 172 on April 26, 2014.
August 23, 2014: TKO Victory Over Clay Collard at UFC Fight Night 49
Max Holloway, stepping in as a replacement fighter, defeated Clay Collard via TKO in the third round at UFC Fight Night 49 on August 23, 2014.
October 4, 2014: First Round Knockout Victory Against Akira Corassani and First Performance of the Night Bonus at UFC Fight Night 53
Max Holloway knocked out Akira Corassani in the first round at UFC Fight Night 53 on October 4, 2014, earning his first Performance of the Night bonus.
2014: Holloway and Pa'aluhi Separate
Max Holloway and Kaimana Pa'aluhi separated in 2014.
February 15, 2015: Unanimous Decision Victory Over Cole Miller at UFC Fight Night 60
Max Holloway defeated Cole Miller by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 60 on February 15, 2015.
April 18, 2015: Submission Victory Against Cub Swanson and Second Performance of the Night Bonus at UFC on Fox 15
On April 18, 2015, at UFC on Fox 15, Max Holloway submitted Cub Swanson in the third round with a mounted guillotine, also securing his second Performance of the Night bonus.
August 23, 2015: TKO Victory Over Charles Oliveira and Youngest Fighter to Reach 10 UFC Wins at UFC Fight Night 74
Max Holloway's TKO victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC Fight Night 74 on August 23, 2015, made him the youngest fighter in UFC history to achieve 10 wins. Oliveira suffered an injury while defending a takedown.
December 12, 2015: Unanimous Decision Win Against Jeremy Stephens at UFC 194
Max Holloway defeated Jeremy Stephens by unanimous decision at UFC 194 on December 12, 2015.
June 4, 2016: Unanimous Decision Victory Over Ricardo Lamas at UFC 199
Max Holloway secured a unanimous decision victory over Ricardo Lamas at UFC 199 on June 4, 2016.
December 10, 2016: Interim UFC Featherweight Championship Win and Performance of the Night Bonus Against Anthony Pettis at UFC 206
Max Holloway defeated Anthony Pettis at UFC 206 on December 10, 2016, to capture the interim UFC Featherweight Championship. Pettis missed weight, making him ineligible for the undisputed title even with a win. Holloway also earned a Performance of the Night bonus.
June 3, 2017: UFC Featherweight Championship Unification Victory and Fight of the Night Bonus Against José Aldo at UFC 212
Max Holloway defeated José Aldo by TKO in the third round at UFC 212 on June 3, 2017, unifying the UFC Featherweight Championship and earning his first Fight of the Night bonus.
October 4, 2017: New Multi-Fight Deal with UFC
Max Holloway signed a new multi-fight deal with the UFC on October 4, 2017.
November 8, 2017: Frankie Edgar Withdraws from UFC 218
Frankie Edgar withdrew from his scheduled fight against Max Holloway at UFC 218 on November 8, 2017, due to injury.
December 2, 2017: TKO Victory and Title Defense Against José Aldo at UFC 218
Max Holloway successfully defended his UFC Featherweight title against José Aldo at UFC 218 on December 2, 2017, winning by TKO in the third round.
2017: Holloway and Pa'aluhi Divorce
Max Holloway and Kaimana Pa'aluhi divorced in 2017.
February 3, 2018: Withdrawal from UFC 222 Due to Injury
Max Holloway withdrew from his scheduled fight against Frankie Edgar at UFC 222 on February 3, 2018, because of a leg injury.
March 3, 2018: Rescheduled Bout with Frankie Edgar at UFC 222 Canceled
Max Holloway's rescheduled bout against Frankie Edgar, originally planned for UFC 222 on March 3, 2018, was canceled due to Holloway's injury.
April 1, 2018: Holloway Announced as Late Replacement for UFC Lightweight Championship
On April 1, 2018, Max Holloway was called in on short notice to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov for the vacant undisputed UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 223, replacing the injured Tony Ferguson.
April 7, 2018: Holloway Pulled from UFC 223 Due to Weight Cut Issues
On April 7, 2018, Max Holloway was pulled from UFC 223 by the New York State Athletic Commission due to health concerns related to his rapid weight cut.
July 7, 2018: Holloway Withdraws from UFC 226 Due to Concussion-Like Symptoms
On July 7, 2018, Max Holloway was scheduled to defend his UFC Featherweight Championship title against Brian Ortega at UFC 226 but withdrew due to health issues resembling a concussion.
December 8, 2018: Holloway Defeats Ortega at UFC 231
On December 8, 2018, Max Holloway fought Brian Ortega at UFC 231, winning by TKO in the fourth round and setting several UFC records for significant strikes.
2018: Holloway Appears in "Den of Thieves"
Max Holloway made an appearance in the 2018 film "Den of Thieves".
July 27, 2019: Holloway Defends Featherweight Title Against Edgar at UFC 240
On July 27, 2019, Max Holloway successfully defended his UFC Featherweight Championship title for the third time, winning against Frankie Edgar by unanimous decision at UFC 240.
December 14, 2019: Holloway Loses Featherweight Title to Volkanovski at UFC 245
On December 14, 2019, Max Holloway lost his UFC Featherweight Championship title to Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 245.
2019: Holloway Loses Interim Lightweight Title Fight Against Poirier
In 2019, Max Holloway moved up a weight class to fight Dustin Poirier for the interim UFC Lightweight Championship, losing by unanimous decision.
2020: Holloway Begins Dating Alessa Quizon
Max Holloway began dating Hawaiian pro surfer Alessa Quizon in early 2020.
June 17, 2021: Holloway Withdraws from UFC on ESPN 26 Due to Injury
On June 17, 2021, Max Holloway withdrew from his scheduled fight against Yair Rodríguez at UFC on ESPN 26 due to an injury.
November 13, 2021: Holloway Defeats Rodríguez at UFC Fight Night 197
Max Holloway defeated Yair Rodríguez by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 197 on November 13, 2021.
March 5, 2022: Holloway Withdraws from UFC 272 Trilogy Bout with Volkanovski
Max Holloway was scheduled for a trilogy fight against Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC Featherweight Championship on March 5, 2022, at UFC 272, but withdrew due to injury.
April 16, 2022: Holloway Marries Alessa Quizon
Max Holloway married Alessa Quizon on April 16, 2022.
July 2, 2022: Holloway Loses to Volkanovski in Trilogy Fight at UFC 276
On July 2, 2022, Max Holloway faced Alexander Volkanovski for the third time at UFC 276, losing by unanimous decision.
April 15, 2023: Holloway Defeats Allen at UFC on ESPN 44
On April 15, 2023, Max Holloway secured a victory against Arnold Allen at UFC on ESPN 44.
August 26, 2023: Holloway Defeats Jung via Knockout at UFC Fight Night 225
Max Holloway won by knockout in the third round against Jung Chan-sung at UFC Fight Night 225 on August 26, 2023.
April 13, 2024: Holloway Wins BMF Title at UFC 300
Max Holloway won the symbolic "BMF" ("baddest motherfucker") belt by defeating Justin Gaethje in a lightweight bout at UFC 300 on April 13, 2024.
August 2024: Holloway's Record-Breaking Performance Against Kattar at UFC on ABC 1
As of August 2024, Max Holloway's fight against Calvin Kattar at UFC on ABC 1 holds multiple UFC records for strikes landed.
August 20, 2024: UFC Rankings Update
As of August 20, 2024, Max Holloway is ranked #2 in the UFC featherweight rankings, #9 in the UFC lightweight rankings, and #11 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings.
October 26, 2024: Holloway to Challenge Topuria for Featherweight Title at UFC 308
Max Holloway is scheduled to face the current champion, Ilia Topuria, for the UFC Featherweight Championship at UFC 308 on October 26, 2024.