#TFGInterview: Will redeem the previous fight at UFC 199 - In Conversation with Max Holloway

UFC 199 is stacked with two title fights taking place in the main and co-main events of the night. However, the card runs deep and some of the undercard fights have the potential to be barnburners and features some of the biggest names in the sport.

One of them being Max Holloway, who on an 8-fight win streak is knocking on the door of a title shot in the UFC’s 145-lbs division. In the midst of fight week, ‘Blessed’ took time to speak to The Fan Garage about his upcoming fight and what can we look forward to, with his clash against Ricardo Lamas this Saturday.

TFG: One of the front-runners for a title shot in the 145 lbs. division; do you feel like a win over a former title challenger in Ricardo Lamas will earn you a title shot?

Max Holloway: We’ll see what happens you know. The 145-lbs picture is very murky right now. I have got Ricardo who’s a handful, so I am going to take one step at a time and handle business on June 4^th.

TFG: Lamas in his media appearances have expressed his confidence against you with his wrestling, given your loss to Bermudez a couple of years ago. How do you feel you have improved in that aspect of the game and how much of a threat do you feel will that be when you face an accomplished wrestler in Lamas?

MH: I think I am in his mind already. He has been going around telling people how he is a striker, and now that he is going against me, he wants to go back to his wrestling roots? It’s kind of a compliment to me and my striking game, so it feels great that it is bugging him a bit more.

So we are going to have to see what I come up with as an answer to stop his takedowns with, and after I say Yes to that question of his, what else has he got for me?

TFG: As among the few Hawaiian fighters in the UFC, could you tell us about the MMA scene in Honolulu and how much of an impact has BJ Penn had in the rise of MMA’s popularity in the region?

MH: The Hawaiian MMA scene is crazy you know. The Rumble on the Rock promotion has seen some of the biggest names come through there. Anderson Silva, Carlos Condit, Jake Shields, Robbie Lawler and the list goes on and on.

Of course, BJ has opened the door for all of us Hawaiian fighters and a lot of the Hawaiian fighters are carrying the torch pretty well too I feel.

TFG: Following your last win over a tough opponent like Jeremy Stephens, you expressed disappointment and even apologized to the fans. Was there anything in particular about the fight that made you do that or was it just because the crowd expressed their disinterest during the fight?

MH:  You know, it was just me. I felt like I had the opportunities where I could have finished, but I didn’t take it and it was one of those cases where you live and you learn.

It did have some mixed reviews, like you said some of the fans didn’t like it, while many others loved it. It was a 50/50 reception and I get a chance this weekend to go redeem that by putting in work.

You can watch UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping @ 7.30am on Sunday, 5th June 2016 LIVE AND EXCLUSIVELY ON Sony SIX & SIX HD