Max Holloway has been “Blessed” with a clean bill of health and is ready to get back into the Octagon in April if needed.
On Friday, ESPN was first to report from sources that Holloway (23-6) had been cleared to return to training after re-aggravating a previous injury in January. The report also stated that those same sources claim the Hawaiian has informed the UFC that he would be willing to serve as a backup for the UFC 273 main event featherweight title bout between champion Alexander Volkanovski (23-1) and Chan Sung Jung (17-6).
Max Holloway cleared to return to training after aggravating a prior injury in January
In early January, Holloway, 30, was reportedly set to face off with Volkanovski in a trilogy fight that would headline the promotion’s UFC 272 card in March. However, days after reports of the booking made headlines, “Blessed” had to remove himself from the bout due to injury.
Several active and inactive fighters — including former two-division champion Henry Cejudo — campaigned for the opportunity to fight for the featherweight title in Holloway’s place. Eventually, the UFC tabbed fourth-ranked 145-pounder Jung to battle the champion. The title fight was also moved back a month to the headlining spot at UFC 273.
In recent years, the UFC has had fighters attend fight week as alternates for pay-per-view title matchups. The most notable of that group was Michael Chandler when he served as a backup for the UFC 254 lightweight title bout between champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje.
Holloway has won back-to-back fights following his consecutive title bout losses to Volkanovksi.
UFC 273 takes place inside the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. on April 9.
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