UFC featherweight Max Holloway has gamely stepped up to fight #1 lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov for the undisputed title at UFC 223 on just six days notice. However, he was not the only person who got the call.
Brian Ortega said he accepted the bout, but the UFC eventually went with their first choice. And former lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez explained on an Instagram Live video that he too was offered ‘The Eagle’. However, Alvarez declined, with good reason, adding that he didn’t believe he was their first choice in any case.
Me and my wife were getting ready for Easter and I got a call from Lloyd, my manager, said Alvarez, as transcribed by Jed Meshew for MMA Fighting. It was April first so just like you guys, I thought it was an April Fool’s joke. Then he told me Tony got hurt and when he told me how Tony got hurt, I really thought it was an April Fool’s joke, so I’m just as shocked and disappointed as you guys are.
It would have been great to be ready for that fight and be ready to step in and save the day, but unfortunately, I am way, way too big to make the 155-pound limit on six days’ notice. I think most guys at 155, especially in the top five, can’t make that 155-pound limit on six days’ notice.
I’ll be honest, I’m disappointed in myself a little bit because I kind of had the foresight to see this happening. I even talked about it happening but when it got like three to four weeks out, I just said ‘F*** it, these guys are gonna fight. There’s really no reason for me to be ready.’
I’m every bit of 190 right now so there wasn’t even a small chance that I could make 155. . . I asked about doing a catchweight at welterweight but all they asked me was what’s the lowest that I could get to. I’m probably a little more than 190. I’m heavier than I’ve ever been because I haven’t fought in a long time.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to take advantage of that opportunity, but to be honest with you, my real feelings on it is that Khabib is not the fighter that you take on six days’ notice. In order to beat Khabib, you need to be conditioned, No. 1. He already poses a unique style but number one you have to be very, very well conditioned. Beating Khabib on six days’ notice is a very, very, tough, tough ask.
To do it on six days’ notice, my hat’s off to Max. . . Max Holloway’s a f***ing beast. Max Holloway single-handedly ran through his division, fought the best guys in the world, but anybody who’s a fighter understands the difference between someone who’s in the peak of their training camp and the difference of someone who is just starting their training camp. It’s a vast difference. We’re not gonna see the real Max Holloway on Saturday. We’re just not. As much as we love Max Holloway, and as much as I think the world of him and he’s a great champion, we’re not gonna see the real Max Holloway on Saturday.
