It’s always a beautiful sight when former rivals turn into friends after retirement—whether it’s Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield or Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen. These moments are nothing short of heartwarming. And now, Max Holloway has joined that list. ‘Blessed’ recently landed in South Korea for a training session with none other than the legendary Korean Zombie. The reception he received upon arrival? Nothing short of a million-dollar moment.
Nineteen months have passed since the ‘BMF’ belt holder, Max Holloway, delivered a stunning knockout against former UFC title challenger Chan Sung Jung in the main event of UFC Singapore. It was the retirement fight for the ‘Korean Zombie’ after his return from mandatory military service in Korea. After leaving the Octagon for good, Sung Jung transitioned to promoting fighters, organizing events under the banner of Z Fight Night (ZFN).
Jung has already propelled and kick-started several fighters to the UFC, further cementing his influence in the game. ‘The Korean Zombie’ recently extended a warm and sincere invitation to his former foe, Max Holloway, to visit his home country, South Korea. Why? Well, because Sung Jung wants Holloway to take part in a ZFN Fight Audition. Max Holloway accepted his invitation, and as he touched down in Seoul, he got a million-dollar reception as fans cheered his arrival.
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The duo will team up to assess rising talent during training sessions, handpicking standout fighters who will earn a prized opportunity to compete at an upcoming ZFN event. Well, such a reception was expected from the Korean fans. Why? Because Holloway has an immense following in the nation, and after his classy gesture at UFC Singapore, “This man’s a f——g legend. He’s Korean Zombie for a reason. The man is a myth, a legend.”—calling the Korean Zombie a legend—the fans admired him even more.
With Max Holloway training back in South Korea, what’s next for him? Since his loss to Ilia Topuria at UFC 308, ‘Blessed’ is yet to embrace the Octagon. So, what’s next for him? Let us find out.
What’s coming for Max Holloway?
Back at UFC 308, Max Holloway stepped into the Octagon to test his mettle against Ilia Topuria in a bid to reclaim the featherweight title. However, despite his valiant effort, ‘La Leyenda’ made history by becoming the first fighter to knock out Holloway, securing the victory by way of knockout. After that defeat, Holloway has yet to return to the Octagon, but he has his choice of opponents for his comeback.
‘Blessed’ has confirmed that his days of fighting in the featherweight division are long gone, and now he will only be competing at the lightweight division. Max Holloway is targeting International Fight Week in June or July, and for his comeback fight, the ‘BMF’ titleholder has already named some fighters. Charles Oliveira, Arman Tsarukyan, and Dustin Poirier are the top priority for ‘Blessed’ right now.
A rematch with Charles Oliveira stands out, especially since their initial fight ended due to an injury for ‘Do Bronx.’ Since then, Oliveira has transformed his fighting style so dramatically that he went from being labeled a quitter to becoming a former lightweight champion.
However much more than that a clash with Dustin Poirier is possible as UFC lightweight, Beneil Dariush, in his recent confession, has asserted that he has heard from the top brass about such rumors. Given that, what are your thoughts on Max Holloway’s upcoming fights? Chime in with the comments below.
The post As Dustin Poirier Retirement Fight Rumors Flare, Max Holloway’s First Move Gets Heartwarming Response From Hundreds appeared first on EssentiallySports.
