Many believed it was all an April Fool’s joke when Dana White announced on Sunday that Tony Ferguson was injured and out of the UFC 223 lightweight title fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov. To make the news even harder to believe, White announced that UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway has replaced Ferguson and will fight Nurmagomedov for the official lightweight title at UFC 223, which takes place on April 7 in New York.
KHON2 Sports Director Rob DeMello caught up with Holloway at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu prior to flying out to New York for fight week and explained the situation.
“April Fools! Nah, I’m, just joking the news was crazy. My manager called me he told me that Tony is hurt and they want you and Khabib. So I was like, how do you turn down an opportunity like this? Opportunities like this come once in a lifetime. Really only one guy was able to do it so glad to be the second guy and go out there and make history” Holloway told DeMello.
“I’m here to fight man,” added Holloway. “I’m not a match maker. I got business to handle at 145 but I said when the UFC calls I’m gonna call away you know? They called the right guy you know? I’m here on six days notice, April 7th. It’s going to be a great night.”
Holloway was offered and accepted the fight just six days prior to the event taking place and is looking forward to the matchup and opportunity moving up a weight class.
“To be the best you got to beat the best and the best is blessed baby.”
“I can’t wait,” said Holloway of his fight against Nurmagomedov. “This guy is one of the most feared guys you know? I don’t know why, we are all fighters we all train. He’s human, I’m human. Let’s get out there and find out who’s better.”
