Justin Gaethje opens up about his biggest regret from BMF title fight against Max Holloway

17/07/2024 13:08

With his quest for BMF supremacy against Max Holloway ending in a brutal knockout defeat, Justin Gaethje has revealed what he would’ve done differently.

The pair of sporting titans clashed in a tremendous match-up at UFC 300, with ‘Blessed’ scoring the fight-ending blow, with just a second left of the final round.

Justin Gaethje reveals his biggest regret from his fight with Max Holloway

Renowned for their entertaining styles and willingness to fight anyone, anytime, anywhere, Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway made for the perfect BMF contenders.

Throughout their careers, the pair of superstars have delivered in abundance, with each delivering showstopping performances that have left fans on the edge of their seats.

Thus, it comes as no major surprise that when the pair squared off in the cage on one of the biggest nights the sport has ever seen, they produced a battle worthy of its place in the UFC history books.

The two athletes exchanged brutal blows, with each having to showcase the hearts they’ve been so famous for throughout their careers.

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However, it was Holloway who asserted his dominance, exhibiting lightning speed and precision to take over the contest.

Then, in a turn of events that MMA enthusiasts will never forget, in the dying moments of the fight, ‘Blessed’ pointed to the center of the cage, and traded with his rival, rendering him unconscious with just a single second left on the clock.

Ultimately, the loss has prompted Gaethje to return to the drawing board, where he’s concluded that had he made an alteration to his gameplan, the result could’ve been very different.

During an episode of The Anik & Florian Podcast, he explained: "I didn't feel exhausted in there, which I would assume would've been the repercussion of breaking your nose is not being able to use it.

"My gameplan wasn't necessarily the correct gameplan, but that's only something you can [worry about] after the fact. [Max Holloway] was very precise, perfect that night.

"I think I would've pressured more, I would've tried to move forward and fight. I thought he would come to me, and then when he did come, it was few and far between, where it was so unpredictable and fast that I didn't see it or find it.

“If I would have been inside and like I did in the fourth round, similar to the fourth round, only round that I for sure think I won, I moved forward. I was trying to step on his feet. I think that was the way that I had to fight that fight. At least from the second round on."

Justin Gaethje confesses Max Holloway made for an extremely difficult challenge

While there are things the 37-year-old would love to turn back the clock and do differently, it might not have made a difference.

If Gaethje had applied more pressure, he may have overwhelmed Holloway, but equally, in reality, it could’ve resulted in his demise sooner in the fight.

Rather than making excuses, ‘The Human Highlight Reel’ has shown nothing but respect for his adversary.

During the podcast, he added: "I think he fought an amazing fight. He was very precise and perfect that night—a very tough Max Holloway to beat."

While the Arizona native is coming off a loss, he remains one of the most popular fighters in the sport and will undoubtedly continue to captivate fans for a long time to come.

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