LAS VEGAS >> If Max Holloway has his way, he’s about to take up residency on the ninth island.
A city that has made its name on hosting the biggest prize fights in the world hasn’t seen Holloway fight since he was a pay-per-view opener against Jeremy Stephens in 2015.
That will change Saturday night in T-Mobile Arena when the UFC 145-pound titleholder begins his fourth year as champion with a title defense against Alexander Volkanovski in the co-main event of UFC 245.
Holloway was still a year away from holding UFC gold for the first time when he beat Stephens by unanimous decision. Add in Hawaii’s unique connection to Las Vegas and it’s almost disrespectful that it’s taken this long to bring Holloway back to the closest thing there is to a UFC Hawaii event.
“After Saturday night, I think (UFC president) Dana White, the UFC, the world is going to see that, look, this is where I need to be fighting,” Holloway said during Thursday’s media day event at the Red Rock Casino Resort and Hotel. “Right here in the ninth island, the fighting capital of the world, Las Vegas.”
For fighters who reach the pinnacle of their sport, Vegas becomes a second home. Floyd Mayweather had his last 15 boxing fights in Las Vegas. Conor McGregor, the biggest name in mixed martial arts, has fought outside of Vegas only once in the last five years.
Holloway is closing in on that status having won his last 13 fights at 145 pounds. He’s cleaned out the division time and time again and done so in impressive fashion, winning nine of those fights by stoppage.
The three daily non-stop Hawaiian Airlines flights from Hawaii to Las Vegas have been filled with paniolo in their cowboy hats attending the national rodeo finals that have lasted more than a week and end Saturday. The boots and the big belt buckles are already being replaced by fight shirts as there will be a heavy Hawaii contingent in the arena where Holloway will definitely be the crowd favorite.
“You can go to the California Hotel right now and you can see how flooded it is with Hawaiians,” Holloway said. “People from Hawaii live here, have been living here, we’re going to see a lot of flags in T-Mobile Arena come Saturday night and I’m excited for it.”
Vegas and Max are a perfect fit, which is why it’s so surprising it has taken this long for a Holloway fight to be held here.
It hasn’t taken his challenger, Volkanovski, long to rise up the ranks at 145 pounds.
Together, the two are a combined 30-1 over the last six years. Volkanovski is 7-0 in the UFC and went to Brazil to beat Jose Aldo by unanimous decision to earn this title shot.
“He went to Rio, fought the king of Rio, and won a decision. That is insane,” said Holloway, whose only loss came earlier this year when he moved up in weight to fight for the interim lightweight belt. “He’s the No. 1 contender for a reason.”
Holloway is a slight favorite at -170 according to the latest betting lines posted on the strip.
It’s nothing new to Volkanovski, who was unquestionably confident while speaking at media day.
“I’ve been an underdog before and I’m undefeated (in the UFC),” he said. “(The Aldo fight) proved to me that we are on another level. I’m expecting it to be a tough fight but I’m the man for the job and I get to show that to the world in two days.”
Aldo, who went undefeated for a decade and held the UFC featherweight belt for six years, is moving down to 135 pounds for the first time after losing to Volkanovski.
He’s also on Saturday’s card and was seated next to Volkanovski during the media event. He was asked his prediction for the fight.
“If I had to put money on it, I would put money on Max Holloway,” Aldo said.
There are three title fights on the card with Amanda Nunes defending her bantamweight championship against Germaine de Randamie and Kamaru Usman putting his welterweight title on the line against Colby Covington.
This is the first time Holloway won’t fight in the main event since before he beat Anthony Pettis for the interim featherweight title.
“It is what it is. Even when I didn’t have the belt I felt like it was the main event,” Holloway said. “I wish I could be the first fight of the night. By the time I’m done fighting usually the green room is closed and I can’t eat none of the junk (food) or all of the junk food is gone.”
UFC 245
Saturday, 5 p.m.
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
Welterweight title fight
Kamaru Usman (15-1, 10-0) vs. Colby Covington (15-1, 10-1)
Featherweight title fight
Max Holloway (21-4, 17-4) vs. Alexander Volkanovski (20-1, 7-0)
Bantamweight title fight
Amanda Nunes (18-4, 11-1) vs. Germaine de Randamie (9-3, 6-1)
