Max Holloway Was ‘Due’ for Finish at UFC Singapore, Wants to ‘Win the Title Back’

Max Holloway had an inkling that Chan Sung Jung might go for broke in their headlining bout at UFC Fight Night 225.

That’s exactly what happened in Round 3, when “The Korean Zombie” threw caution to the wind before Holloway landed the decisive blow to win via knockout 23 seconds into the period. Shortly thereafter, Jung laid down his gloves in an emotional farewell.

“I think he knew exactly what had to be done,” Holloway said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “I think he knew what the job was. It was kill or be killed. I was just lucky that I was on top on the other side of it. We both threw right hands. Mine just landed a tad quicker. A half-second slower, who knows, his lands first what would have happened? I don’t know if I would have ate it or a lot of stuff could have gone wrong.

“I think I hurt him in the second round good. Between the second and the third, he was sitting there and being like, ‘I’m not going to coast through a five-round [fight], I’m going to die on my sword,’ and that’s what he did. That’s why people love ‘The Korean Zombie.’ He’s a legend in every way of the sport.”

For Holloway, it was his first victory inside the distance since a doctor stoppage victory against Brian Ortega at UFC 231 on Dec. 8, 2018. Prior to facing Jung, the Hawaiian’s last eight bouts had been five-round affairs.

“I needed a finish,” Holloway said. “I was due for one. What better place to do it [than where I started] my 12-fight win streak before I got the title, here in Singapore. This was my first ever walkoff KO. It was amazing. Something was in the air.

“The people of Lahaina, Maui, they gave me their power in my right hand. They call me ‘Pillow Holloway.’ I was like, ‘OK, whatever.’ I guess we had stones in the pillowcase today. It was good.”

Holloway has won four of his last five outings within the Las Vegas-based promotion and remains the 1A in the featherweight division to Alexander Volkanovski’s No. 1. “Blessed” isn’t giving up hope on making another title run at with his 32nd birthday on the horizon.

“They say your best years is in your mid 30s. You don’t really get grown man strength until your mid 30s. So I feel great,” he said. “I want to win the title back. I want to defend it a bunch of times, and after we do that, maybe even go up a weight or two to get more titles. We’ll see what happens. Anything is possible.”