The UFC featherweight division is in a holding pattern while Conor McGregor attends to other goals, but featherweight contender Max Holloway believes there’s a simple solution for the 145 lb. field.
In an interview with Duane Finley for FanSided.com, the young Hawaiian argued that all they need right now is an Interim Title fight to keep things moving, and he thinks that first fight should come in Hawaii.
“Things are kind of crazy in my division right now,” Holloway said. “Conor [McGregor] has the belt and he may not be back at featherweight anytime soon. Both Jose [Aldo] and Frankie [Edgar] are saying they won’t fight again unless it’s for a title and that has created a strange situation. I pitched an idea of having an interim title fight against either one of those guys and doing the fight in Hawaii.
“We want an event here and why not do it big with a title on the line in the main event? Let’s put it on the line and may the best man win. When Conor gets done doing what he’s doing then he can come back and we can get the belt situation squared up, but why hold things up? Let’s keep it moving and do it in Hawaii.
“If people feel I need to keep proving myself then that’s what I’m going to do. I’d love to fight for the title, but at the end of the day, if that’s not going to happen next then I’m going to keep moving. I’m not going to cry about anything. I’m going to fight every man they put in front of me until I get that gold belt around my waist. I’m ready to prove my worth and I want to be a legend in this sport. I want to be remembered as one of the best to have ever competed and to do that you have to fight all the top guys. I don’t mind doing that one bit.”
Penick’s Analysis: An Interim Title is a must if McGregor’s not going to be back anytime soon and the UFC doesn’t have him drop the title; it allows the division to move forward, and if McGregor doesn’t wind up coming back down at all then eventually that Interim Champ can be named the official Champion. I don’t know that Holloway’s going to get that fight, and it’s more likely right now that Edgar and Aldo wind up fighting again this summer, but Holloway’s got the right idea, and could fight one of those men later this year if McGregor continues to hang around at lightweight or welterweight.
[Photo (c) Gary A. Vasquez via USA Today Sports]
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