Chama! ‘Blessed’ Following ‘Poatan’ Blueprint
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Holloway is looking to Pereira as inspiration for what’s possible after a tough loss and a move up in weight.
Max Holloway isn’t letting his third round KO loss to Ilia Topuria get him down.
The former featherweight kingpin and current BMF belt holder barely missed a beat after the defeat, showing up at the UFC 308 post-fight press conference and confirming he’d continue his fight journey at lightweight. That’s where he scored a spectacular last-second knockout win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.
The Topuria loss may have messed up the momentum from that Gaethje win, but Holloway is looking at former middleweight champ and current light heavyweight champ Alex Pereira as inspiration for the next chapter of his career.
MAX HOLLOWAY: "We saw Alex Pereira get finished... Next fight he fought for a #1 contender spot, [then he] fought for the title and he's on a spectacular title run...
Let's mimic him. Let's do it. I get inspiration in that. He's a beast."
VIA | KICK —@BlessedMMA #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/96r4sZ89tr
— FEDZ_MMA (@Fedzmma) November 8, 2024
“All I know is, we saw Alex Pereira get finished, right?” Max said on a Kick stream. “Next fight, he fought for the number one contender spot, fought for the title, and he’s on a title run right now, a spectacular title run.”
“Let’s mimic it, let’s do it,” he concluded. “I get inspiration in that. He’s a beast, a beast!”
Whatever happens will be captured on film in a new movie about Holloway’s life being made by director Peter Hamblin, who’s documentaries on surfing are pretty unique both stylistically and philosophy wise.
The movie, which was just announced by Deadline, is being developed by Dream Bay Entertainment, headed by former Amazon Studios exec Thomas Drachkovitch, who will serve as executive producer.
“Blessed” wasn’t able to shake off the BMF curse that has resulted in every fighter who has won it losing their next fight, but we hope he’s able to turn things around as he returns to 155, where there’s a lot of exciting (and challenging) bouts in store for him.
