When Max Holloway lost his "never been KO'd" streak during "once in a lifetime ride" with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels
The vast majority of fight fans and experts seemingly concur that Max Holloway possesses a great chin. He's known to have absorbed considerable damage from some of the most dangerous strikers and has never been knocked out in MMA competition. Nevertheless, 'Blessed' was famously rendered unconscious during an aircraft ride.
Holloway is a former UFC featherweight champion and currently holds the UFC's symbolic BMF championship. He boasts a professional MMA record of 26 victories and seven defeats. Of his losses, six came on the judges' scorecards and one by way of submission. His only stoppage loss was a first-round submission defeat, early in his career, in his first encounter against Dustin Poirier.
Moreover, Max Holloway's most recent fight witnessed him defeat Justin Gaethje via fifth-round KO in a lightweight bout at the landmark UFC 300 event in April 2024. Their showdown had Gaethje's BMF championship at stake, and the spectacular last-second knockout win helped Holloway become the new BMF champion.
Holloway took some of Gaethje's best shots and stayed conscious regardless. That said, back in Aug. 2022, the Hawaiian MMA stalwart briefly lost consciousness on a US fighter jet, seemingly owing to the overwhelming g-forces during a turn.
'Blessed' put forth an Instagram post, featuring a video of himself riding in the jet with a co-pilot who helmed it. Holloway's statement in the post indicated that the aircraft belonged to the 'Blue Angels', the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron.
The American fighter expressed his gratitude and lightheartedly acknowledged that his streak of never having been knocked out had been broken. Holloway wrote:
"Sadly my "never been KO'd" streak came to an end. I was blessed with the opportunity to fly with @usnavyblueangels . Shoutout to number 7 pilot Griffin Stangel and everyone behind the scenes for the unreal experience. This once in a lifetime ride I will never forget. Thank you"
Check out footage from the plane ride and Max Holloway's statement in the post below:
Ilia Topuria looks to become the first fighter to knock Max Holloway out heading into UFC 308 fight
Speaking to MMA Junkie earlier this year, Ilia Topuria alluded to Max Holloway's tendency to point to the mat and draw opponents into a phone booth striking exchange even when he's winning the fight. Holloway notably did that against Gaethje too.
'El Matador' warned that attempting the same against him would get him knocked out. Topuria believes he'll be the first fighter to KO Holloway:
"If he's gonna bring the same energy he brings in the last 10 seconds of every round, when he [points his finger to the ground], I'm gonna knock him out in the first round."
Meanwhile, Max Holloway acknowledged that Ilia Topuria won the featherweight belt by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski, an archnemesis whom he's lost to thrice. Nevertheless, 'Blessed' suggested that he matches up well with Topuria, adding the UFC protected the Georgian-Spanish fighter by keeping them apart for this long.
Presently, UFC featherweight champion Topuria is scheduled to face Holloway in the headlining match of UFC 308 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., on Oct. 26, 2024. The highly-anticipated showdown will be contested at featherweight with Topuria's belt at stake, whereas Holloway's BMF title won't be on the line.