“If this guy is coming into the fight thinking he’s going to out wrestle me, you better go think again. We’ve got some surprises for Ricardo. I can’t wait. I’m already in his mind, you know, he can talk about it. His last couple of fights, he’s been trying to strike with everyone and now he’s trying to go back to his wrestling base. So we’ll see what happens. I’m out here, I’m gonna do what Max Holloway does best… His last couple of fights, if you watch all his fights, he don’t wrestle nobody. He thinks he’s a striker guy. You know, you got Aldo – he struck with Aldo almost the whole time in that fight. So for him to start thinking about focusing on his wrestling for me, it’s kind of [like he’s] doubting himself already. So that’s opening the door for more doubt and more doubt… [My prediction is] Max Holloway going out there, doing his thing, doing some cool s*** and getting my hand raised after whatever rounds it is, I don’t care. I’m going out there – let him choose when he wants out. And when it’s all said and done, [I’m] getting my hand raised, raising that Hawaiian flag and going on from there.”
-Max Holloway talks to Submission Radio about his fight with Ricardo Lamas this weekend at UFC 199.
Penick’s Analysis: Bit much on the third person talk, but the young Hawaiian’s got tons of confidence in his game. He already believes he should be a title contender, and though that’s not where the UFC has him just yet a win over Lamas would do wonders for his chances. He’s been one of the most impressive guys in the division for a while, but he hasn’t gotten the matchups necessary to move him into that title contender spot. A couple more wins over the right names at the right times will set things up for him, but the division’s in such a holding pattern with the Conor McGregor situation that the path certainly isn’t clear to when, where, and against whom Holloway’s first shot can come. Still, if he beats Lamas, that’s yet another necessary step forward for him.
[Photo (c) Gary A. Vasquez via USA Today Sports]
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