Ironically, UFC CEO Dana White recently announced the fight card for UFC 306 at the Las Vegas Sphere. Scheduled to take place on Mexican Independence Day, the highly anticipated event has surprised many fans as Max Holloway, despite his impressive performance at UFC 300, does not appear in the cast. Eager to meet Ilia Topuria next, Holloway has openly expressed her disappointment at the omission.
Holloway’s UFC 300 Victory
Max Holloway’s victory over Justin Gaethje in the semifinals of UFC 300 was no surprise. This victory solidified his status as the BMF title holder and set the stage for a possible fight with Ilya Topuria at UFC 306. However, the announcement of the Noche UFC Sphere card left Holloway and his fans with both disappointment and hope.
Holloway’s Frank Response
Championship Rounds shared a video message from Holloway on his X account, where he openly expressed his feelings about being left out at UFC 306. “Feel sorry, bro. It’s Mexican Independence Day, guys. You can’t have a Spaniard from whom Mexicans regained their independence writing the motto of Mexico’s Independence Day. C’mon, bro,” Holloway said, mocking Topuria’s Spanish heritage. Holloway also expressed shock at not being included in the show, saying, “I tell you, but everyone knew I was fighting in the round except me.”
The UFC Sphere’s More Impressive
The UFC has invested $17 million to make the Sphere an incredible experience for fans. Dana White promised the event could be a once-in-a-lifetime event. But Holloway’s rivalry with Topuria, which began after he called for the win at UFC 300, remains unresolved. Holloway had boldly challenged Topuria, saying, “Guys, there’s ‘El Matador’; He has escaped from the bull at the age of 145; Tell him to sign a contract in Spain, Hawaii, anywhere.”
Future Plans for Holloway and Topuria
Max Holloway had initially expressed a desire to fight in Salt Lake City, and it appears that his request is being considered. Rumor has it that Holloway and Topuria could face off at UFC 307 instead. Ariel Helwani, a well-known MMA journalist, has weighed in on the situation.
Ilya Topuria recently announced that he would return to the Octagon on his X account, saying, “It seems that the UFC forced him to say yes. El Matador is back. Congratulations to all UFC fans.” Holloway responded with pictures of her gym, writing that she was “patiently waiting”.
Helwani was quick to address the potential matchup, pointing out that although the fight won’t happen at UFC 306, fans can expect it soon. He tweeted, “The plan has always been [Alexa] Grasso’s title defense as she told us two weeks ago… now the new plan will be Ilia [Topuria] vs. Ilia [Topuria] . Max [Holloway], likely on the October 5th Utah card , which hasn’t been officially announced yet.” Helwani insisted that Dana White should keep his plans secret, and that both Holloway and Topuria have the potential to generate high-paying sales
Fan Reactions
The exclusion of Holloway from the UFC 306 card has sparked a wave of reactions from fans. Many are disappointed but remain hopeful that Dana White will reconsider and make the fight happen. The anticipation continues to build as the MMA community eagerly awaits further announcements.
