Fight fans torn over Max Holloway’s ‘drained’ weight cut for UFC 308: ‘No power at all’

*** HIGHLIGHTS! Watch Topuria Flatten Holloway On Fight Island!!! ***

Dan Hiergesell is an expert voice who serves as MMAmania.com's weekend editor, covering mixed martial arts (MMA) for more than 15 years, getting featured on programs such as Countdown to UFC and SiriusXM Fight Club, among others.

Max Holloway once again looked drained for his featherweight weight cut ahead of UFC UFC 308 tomorrow afternoon (Sat., Oct. 26, 2024) live on ESPN+ pay-per-view (PPV) from inside Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and fight fans don’t really know what to think.

Holloway, who will be looking to become the undisputed UFC featherweight champion for the second time in his career, never has the best of weight cuts. He has a larger frame for the 145-pound division, but always comes in on weight when it matters most. That didn’t change on Friday when Holloway tipped the scale at 145 pound to make his main event title fight with UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria official (early UFC 308 weigh ins results HERE).

There were no signs of Holloway struggling to make the featherweight benchmark, but fight fans were once again worried at how the 32-year-old veteran looked on the scale. In Holloway’s defense, he looked the same this time around compared to his previous three weight cuts down to 145 pounds. Check out the photo comparisons below (via Oscar Willis):

Still, fight fans are almost split down the middle as to whether or not Holloway struggled to make weight for UFC 308. “Blessed” is one of the most game fighters in all of combat sports, but a draining weight cut in advance to a five-round fight with a durable and ultra-dangerous champion like Topuria could be disastrous for the Hawaiian fighter.

Check out some of the fan reaction below and let us know your thoughts!

“It’s not a max Holloway fight week if people don’t pretend to be weight cutting experts and act like he’s struggling.”
“I don’t like the way he looked at the weigh-in, and I don’t like the way he looked at the presser. Looks like he had a bad cut this time, and that worries me going against someone who hits as hard as Ilia. Unless Max wins, I don’t wanna see him at 145 anymore after this fight.”
“I’d argue he looks better.”
“He looks straight out of thriller in the bottom one.”
“Not totally sure if he’s more drained or if his frame is naturally bigger from going to lightweight.”
“He’s not the same at 145, no power at all. Should’ve stayed at 155 now I’m pissed.”
“He looks drained in all of these, and it just goes to show why he should stick to 155 IMO. His performances have been piss poor at 145 lately.”
“It’s not like his cardio will be an issue.”

LIVE! Watch UFC 308 PPV On ESPN+ Here!

‘FIGHT ISLAND’ FIRECRACKER! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Sat., Oct. 26, 2024, with a thrilling 145-pound championship clash between freshly-crowned kingpin, Ilia Topuria, making his first-ever title defense against former division deity, Max Holloway. In UFC 308’s pay-per-view (PPV) co-headliner, former Middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker, will face off against the oft-injured (and ill) Khamzat Chimaev, with the winner inching one step closer to a future 185-pound title shot. UFC 308 will also feature the pivotal 205-pound showdown between Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic, the return of one-eyed Shara Magomedov and so much more! UFC 308’s start time is scheduled for 10 a.m. ET (Prelims card) and 2 p.m. ET (PPV main card).

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