UFC: Max Holloway calls out Khabib, throws shade at Alex Volkanovski after Fight Island masterclass
- ‘Khabib wanted somebody to impress him,’ says Holloway following unanimous decision over Calvin Kattar
- ‘[Volkanovski] didn’t say he wants a tougher fight, he wants a different fight – let that sink in,’ adds former featherweight champ
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s big decision during Sunday’s UFC Fight Island 7 main card may have been a little underwhelming, revealing he will consider fighting again if Dustin Poirier or Conor McGregor impress him next weekend.
But former featherweight champ Max Holloway (22-6) threw down the gauntlet to the seemingly-retired lightweight champ, noting they have unfinished business of their own after he dismantled Calvin Kattar (22-5) in a main event masterclass. Two judges had it 50-43 for Holloway, with the other awarding Holloway three 10-8 rounds for an utterly dominant unanimous decision at the Etihad Arena on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
“Blessed” was set to fight Nurmagomedov (29-0) for “champ-champ” status after stepping in late to save the cursed UFC 223 main event, which originally saw interim lightweight champ Tony “El Cucuy” Ferguson (26-5) fall out. But the Hawaii native was pulled from the fight on medical advice amid a brutal weight cut, and American Al Iaquinta (14-6-1) stepped in, with the Russian getting a unanimous decision to claim the 155-pound title in April 2018.
“Whoever it is. Khabib wanted somebody to impress him, if I did impress him – because I know the way he thinks,” Holloway said backstage after the fight.
“He wants to fight for his legacy, he doesn’t care about money. He wants the toughest opponents. If I got to push him over the edge so be it.
