UFC Featherweight Champion Max Holloway is set to replace Tony Ferguson in the main event of UFC 223 after Ferguson suffered a knee injury just a week out from his Lightweight Championship bout against Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Holloway will gain the rare opportunity to attempt to secure two UFC title belts simultaneously, a feat that only Conor McGregor has achieved.
Nurmagomedov is aiming to extend his undefeated streak to 26-0, as well as 10-0 in the UFC.
Only Anderson Silva and Royce Gracie have started 10-0 in the UFC, meaning the stakes are high for both fighters to cement their legacies in the UFC.
While Holloway is large for a featherweight, and would have no problem fighting in the 155 pound lightweight division, Nurmagomedov is huge for a lightweight, enduring a hefty weight cut to make championship weight.
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The short preparation for Holloway could set him at a great disadvantage as it is unknown what kind of shape he keeps in outside of fighting, his impressive cardio may be diminished sooner rather than later.
Holloway’s manager Brian Butler-Au revealed that Holloway initially wanted the fight to be at welterweight, before agreeing to cut the additional 15 pounds to reach the lightweight limit.
Holloway’s first request to fight at welterweight may be an insight that he is not as close to being in his true fighting shape.
Holloway was removed from the previous UFC pay per view after suffering an ankle injury just last month, forcing him out of defending his belt against Frankie Edgar.
However, Holloway’s unpredictability inside the Octagon should prove to be an advantage of his own as Nurmagomedov has had less than a week to study his game to find and drill any weaknesses.
“How are you going to get ready in six days for me, Khabib?” Holloway said, at the UFC 223 press conference.
Holloway will thrive in this environment as his game plan should be simple, stay on his feet and avoid falling into a certain pattern that Nurmagomedov can read and take him to the ground.
Nurmagomedov is a renowned grappler, who thrives on pushing forward, pressuring opponents and shooting for takedowns.
He tests their will to continue with dominant displays of ground and pound.
Holloway is tremendous at avoiding the takedown as his previous nine opponents have gone 0-27 in takedown attempts.
While Holloway is the taller fighter, he will likely be at a disadvantage against the heavier Nurmagomedov on fight night.
Stuffing a takedown from Nurmagomedov will prove to be an entirely different challenge once he starts pressing forward on Holloway pushing him against the cage.
Holloway has sound fundamental takedown defence but Nurmagomedov’s persistence and second and third efforts are where he overwhelms his opponents to gain control.
The fight will be for the undisputed Lightweight Championship as current titleholder Conor McGregor is likely set to be stripped in the lead up to UFC 223.
The newly crowned Lightweight Champion is tipped to be next in line to face Conor McGregor.
McGregor has already bested Holloway by unanimous decision in 2013.
But Holloway has taken his game to another level and has improved tenfold, making a future rematch a must-watch contest.
Nurmagomedov will be eager for the opportunity to challenge McGregor too.
The two fighters have had several backstage antics and close encounters culminating in McGregor launching items at a UFC bus to provoke Nurmagomedov.
This is the fourth occasion where Nurmagomedov and Ferguson have attempted to battle only for one fighter to succumb to injury, allowing Holloway to step in on short notice.
White has vowed ‘never’ again to book the two fighters against each other due to their injury history.
UFC 223 will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Saturday (ET).
Strawweight Champion Rose Namajunas will fight Joanna Jedrzejczyk in the co-main event.
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