Picture this: The UFC’s digital clock bleeding away its final moments, with 10 seconds of infinity remaining. That’s when Max Holloway, blessed with either divine inspiration or prophetic madness, transformed from a fighter to a god-king. With a gesture that would make Caesar himself nod in approval, he pointed to the center of the Octagon – asking Justin Gaethje to put it all on the line. It wasn’t just a spot on the canvas, but a portal to instant history.
We are of course talking about the gladiatorial arena of UFC 300, where dreams and bones alike were broken, destiny wrote its masterpiece not in the main/co-main event but in a tale of two veterans who dared to dance with immortality. Holloway and Gaethje did what very few before them have been able to register. As the fight was on the cusp of coming to a close, the air crackled with electricity, and time itself seemed to slow, watching in awe as the duo traded shots with the kind of abandon that makes insurance adjusters weep. And then, in that final heartbeat of battle, with the clock whispering its last second, Holloway unleashed what can only be described as thunder wrapped in lightning.
The punch that found Gaethje’s chin wasn’t just a knockout, it was a statement! Joe Rogan’s voice, declaring it the “KO of the Century,” barely captured its magnitude. And when Dana White called it “the ultimate ‘holy sh-t’ moment of all time,” he wasn’t just selling wolf tickets – he was testifying to a miracle. While fans and analysts continue to praise the former 145lbs champ’s performance, Dan Hooker isn’t convinced it was as dominant as many claim.
Hooker, who is set to fight Gaethje at UFC 313 in his long-awaited return to the Octagon, recently joined Michael Bisping and Paul Felder on YouTube to challenge the prevailing narrative: “I don’t take too much from that fight. I think if those two fight 10 times, Max wins five, Gaethje wins five. What most people take away from that fight is that Max outclassed Gaethje, but I don’t think that’s the case. In my opinion, it was just a bit of a banana peel fight, and the gods of war did not favor Gaethje. It just wasn’t his night,” Hooker explained.
Regardless of Hooker’s perspective, Holloway’s performance against the former interim champ was undeniably remarkable. Both fighters entered the bout in peak form—Gaethje fresh off a knockout win over Dustin Poirier at UFC 291, where Jorge Masvidal symbolically passed him the BMF torch, and Holloway riding the momentum of a two-fight win streak. Throughout the fight, the Hawaiian showcased his elite striking, landing an impressive 181 significant strikes—adding yet another record to his already historic UFC career. Yet, in his next challenge, Max Holloway’s momentum came to an abrupt halt.
Is the UFC BMF title belt cursed? What sank Justin Gaethje?
The UFC introduced the BMF title to engage fans, creating a symbolic belt that celebrates fighters known for their toughness and resilience, rather than traditional championship status. The concept began at UFC 241 when Nate Diaz famously called out Jorge Masvidal to fight for the “baddest m—–fucker” title, leading to UFC 244, where the first-ever BMF belt was up for grabs. ‘Gamebred’ defeated Diaz via doctor’s stoppage (KO/TKO) to claim the title.
However, after winning the BMF belt, Masvidal’s career took a downturn, as he went on a four-fight losing streak, starting with Kamaru Usman. His latest loss came in 2023 to Gilbert Burns, and he hasn’t fought since. Before retiring, ‘Street Jesus’ passed the BMF belt to Justin Gaethje, who faced a challenging matchup at UFC 300.
Meanwhile, Holloway, whose BMF title wasn’t on the line, endured a devastating knockout loss to Ilia Topuria at UFC 308, effectively ending his hopes of holding both the featherweight title and the BMF belt. This setback led fans to dub the BMF title as “cursed,” as each fighter who held it seemed to suffer a fall in their legacy and career. Even Conor McGregor chimed in on the speculation, calling the “curse” theory “wild.”
What do you think about Dan Hooker’s take? Do you believe the fight between Max Holloway and Justin Gaethje deserves all the hype, or do you think it wasn’t as significant as people say? Share your thoughts below!
The post “Gods of War Didn’t Favor Gaethje” – UFC Rival Challenges Narrative on Max Holloway ‘Dominating’ Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 appeared first on EssentiallySports.
