We’re just one week away from UFC 206, which will roll out of the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. GSP was initially expected to make his highly anticipated return to MMA by fighting at UFC 206; however, GSP is now a free agent, and UFC announced a rematch between Daniel Cormier and Anthony “Rumble” Johnson as the headliner instead.
Those plans fell apart with DC getting injured, and the featherweight bout between Anthony Pettis and Max Holloway was pushed as the new main event instead.
The former UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis looks to get back into the title picture, while Holloway, who is on a nine-fight win streak, looks to finally taste gold in the UFC.
Also read: UFC News: Jose Aldo says he knew that Conor McGregor would relinquish his belt; wants rematch
Both the fighters took part in the UFC 206 media conference call recently, and we asked Holloway a few questions about the state of the 145-pound division, and about finally getting the opportunity to get a crack at the title.
Holloway had been talking about the “murky waters” now being cleared, with Conor McGregor recently being stripped of the UFC Featherweight title. Max also talked about facing Pettis next weekend and played down the talk surrounding the need for an interim title.
This is how our conversation with Max Holloway went:
SK: Max, many feel that this fight has been long overdue for you, especially considering the fact the division was dominated for years by Jose, and you had other perennial title contenders floating around. How does it feel to finally get a crack at the title, albeit this is for the interim championship?
Max:
“Feels good, but, like I said, it is what it is. I wasn’t getting all butt hurt about it. I understand that this is a business, and if the opportunity rolls - I’m glad that I’m in a position to take it, you know?
Every single fight is a new fight. I’m going in there thinking I’m 0 - 0 and I’m going to trying and go 1 - 0.
That’s how I’m going to try and approach this game. There are too many people out there that think they’re owed something; in this game you aren't owed sh*t. So, you go out there and prove your worth; prove the damn thing.
That’s what I get to do, you know, come December 10th.”
SK: You’ve faced who’s who in the division coming into this fight. What are your thoughts on the state of the 145-pound division?
Max:
“It’s clear, man. The water was murky; like I said before, the water was very murky. Now it’s super clear, you know? After this, we got a true - a number one contender who gets to fight for the undisputed title.
So, you know, it’s super clear now, and we’ll see what happens after December 10th, and I think it clears up a lot of stuff. “
SK: Anthony is one of the most well-rounded fighters in the UFC today. What do you make of him as an opponent? And how do you see this fight play out?
Max:
“You know, this guy (Pettis) was a champion before. He’s a former champion, and he defended the belt a bunch of times, and he is one of the best guys in the world - for a while now.
So, I look forward to having the opportunity to be in the cage - to share the cage with a guy like that, and it’s time to show people that I’m one of those guys.
I walk around and I tell myself that I’m the best in the world, and you know, come December 10th, I get a chance to prove it to the world.”
You can listen to the entire conference call below. Our conversation with Holloway starts at the 14:05 mark.
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