Islam Makhachev isn’t having it with Max Holloway.
The future of the UFC Lightweight division will be mapped out at UFC 300 with two potential title eliminators going down from Las Vegas, Nevada. Charles Oliveira takes on Arman Tsarukyan and right after, the BMF title will be on the line between Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway.
The reigning, defending champ Makhachev isn’t really a fan of the latter matchup, telling MMA Junkie that Gaethje vs. Holloway is a ‘useless fight for useless belt’.
Holloway Takes Issue With Makhachev: ‘Should Have Fought Justin Gaethje’
Upcoming BMF title challenger Holloway has since responded, taking a shot at Makhachev’s recent inactivity as he has not fought since October, where he knocked out former featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski.
“I saw Islam talk about, ‘This fight makes no sense,’ and blah blah blah. I’m like, brother, you should have fought Justin [Gaethje] in February,” Holloway said on ‘MightyCast‘ (via MMA Fighting). “Why did the guy you knocked out turn around so fast, to fight in February, when you were healthy. You should’ve turned around [and fought in] February.”
‘Blessed’ Doesn’t Think Makhachev Is An ‘Anytime, Anywhere’ Kind Of Fighter
With the top of the lightweight heap booked this weekend, Makhachev is left without a dance partner for now. Although, that could soon change with a potential fight with Dustin Poirier in June.
Holloway says Makhachev is only to blame for his time away from the Octagon.
“Everybody knew you can’t fight in Ramadan, and that’s how come they couldn’t do the fight [at UFC] 300 and he couldn’t get another fight. But he’s complaining like, ‘I can’t get fights.’ I’m like, you’re only fighting around the times that you want to fight,” Holloway continued. “It’s not that you can’t get fights. You’re just not taking the fights that are offered because of certain things that are going on. If you really wanted to fight, I thought you would have turned around and fought in February.”
Makhachev Responds To Holloway: “For The Record….”
While many fans are quick to pass judgement over Makhachev’s activity or what they believe to be a lack thereof, the lightweight champion has in fact kept busy, fighting twice every year for the last three years (three times in 2021).
Maybe not as active as he wanted to be in 2024, Makhachev made sure to remind Holloway and whoever else may have forgot about his body of work during his title run.
“For the record: since 2021 I fought 7 times, while Holloway did 5 fights and Justin just 4,” Makhachev wrote on ‘X‘. “Do your homework before talking trash about your champ :)”
‘Never Said You Weren’t Active’
“Never said you weren’t active,” Holloway wrote on ‘X‘. “I simply said you should have took the feb fight if you wanted to keep busy. Don’t just read headlines champ ;)”
