UFC's Top 5 Headlines (20 December 2016)
1. Max Holloway Backtracking On Fighting Jose Aldo @ UFC 208
Immediately after defeating Anthony Pettis - who had already lost the fight before he ever walked down the aisle - talk began that Max Holloway would take his totally pointless interim featherweight championship to Brooklyn for UFC 208 to challenge the actual 145lb titlist in a unification bout. Dana White himself set those rumors in motion when he was heard telling 'Blessed' about the date as he was awarding him with his new belt. Now, however it seems that Holloway is having second thoughts about committing to the fight.
Max is taking the McGregor route of trying to paint Aldo as scared due to the infrequency in which he fights, calling him "Waldo". Unfortunately the Brazilian fighter has struggled with injuries over the years and it's caused him to miss some fights, but to label him a coward, especially considering he's one of the five greatest fighters to ever compete, is asinine.
Holloway had this to say regarding the potential showdown between the two undisputed top competitors at featherweight:
“I don’t want to give up my son’s birthday and Christmas for Feb. 11, and (Aldo) don’t show up. This guy has a knack for not showing up to the fights. I’ve got to talk to Dana White first, man. I’ve got a brunch. I want to sit down with him and Sean Shelby, and we can talk some business. Most true fans know the storylines, and most true fans said this should be for the belt.”
He's wrong in stating that most true fans thought the fight between he and Pettis should be for the real belt. In no universe does Anthony Pettis - a guy with one unimpressive win at 145 lbs and ultimately failed at making weight for the bout - deserve a title shot in favor of the featherweight GOAT. Period.
Aldo/Holloway is probably next on the slate for the 145 lb championship, it just may not happen at UFC 208.