At UFC 300, Max Holloway claimed the coveted “BMF” title in a jaw-dropping fashion, delivering one of the most memorable knockouts in UFC history against Justin Gaethje. The electrifying showdown reached its climax in the final seconds of Round 5 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
From the outset, both fighters exhibited a degree of caution in Round 1, with Holloway showcasing his strategic prowess and Gaethje responding with formidable boxing skills. However, the momentum shifted dramatically at the end of the round when Holloway’s jumping backkick landed squarely on Gaethje’s nose, visibly affecting him.
Round 2 saw further adversity for Gaethje as he endured two eye pokes from Holloway, prompting referee Marc Goddard to intervene but refraining from deducting any points. As the bout progressed, Holloway’s speed and precision became increasingly dominant, leaving Gaethje struggling to find his rhythm.
Although Gaethje managed to knock Holloway down in Round 4, the resilient champion regained his composure and entered Round 5 with renewed determination. In a stunning turn of events, Holloway unleashed a ferocious combination that left Gaethje reeling. With seconds remaining, he delivered a thunderous overhand right, rendering Gaethje unconscious and clinching the victory.
With this triumph, 32-year-old Holloway extends his winning streak to three impressive victories, including notable wins over Arnold Allen and Chan Sung Jung. Meanwhile, Gaethje, 35, saw his two-fight winning streak come to an abrupt halt following his defeats of Rafael Fiziev and Dustin Poirier.
This “BMF” title bout marked the third in UFC history, with Jorge Masvidal initially claiming the honor at UFC 244 before passing it on to Gaethje following his knockout of Dustin Poirier at UFC 291 in July 2023.
Other notable results from UFC 300 included Arman Tsarukyan’s split decision win over Charles Oliveira, Bo Nickal’s submission victory over Cody Brundage, and Jiri Prochazka’s TKO triumph against Aleksandar Rakic. The event also featured standout performances from Aljamain Sterling, Kayla Harrison, and Diego Lopes, among others.
