Max Holloway fields questions from ESPN’s Marc Raimondi pertaining to the potential of a fight vs. Conor McGregor, if he could …
Mar Mundy for ESPN joined today by the legend Max Holloway maybe the best featherweight Of All Times got his new Brew hat on there and uh Max got a lot to talk to you about uh now but I know that you’re here to to discuss what’s on the hat and I actually have a story for you about this okay I he so I live in Los Angeles with my fiance and she goes to a corner store at Bodega whatever you might want to call it uh depending on where you live in the United States and there’s a gentleman there who runs the place and he has been touting new Brew no joke he has been telling her you got to try this new Brew got to try the new Brew every time she goes in there he’s saying that that’s that is that is a legitimate thing that is happening I’m not getting paid for this but that that is true so I guess this is kind of this is kind of a new a new deal the the new Brew oh yeah oh yeah oh yeah I mean uh I don’t know I don’t know where where you grew up where did you grow up Mark did you where you in New York I guess so not too much Polynesian out there but but but a lot of a lot of Polynesians me being s growing up I had a lot of Polynesian friends and and one of the one of the main ingredients in U is Cava the Cava root and um a lot of them just used to drink it just to help them body uh help themselves to calm down or you know go to sleep and get get get a good night to rest you know and um that’s why I love it you know when I when I heard the new Brew but but then when you drink the Cava I don’t know if you ever had Cava is pretty much it’s just mud water bro it’s a it’s a tough drink to drink you know what I mean but when you drink Cava what you do is you mix the bowl you make the Cava and then somebody bring Jolly ranches or lollipop so when you drinking it you can suck on something that’s you know sweet at the same time and numu does that does that all in one for you you know so I’m excited when we heard about this and U the partnership came about I was super excited for the opportunity and um I can’t wait for the rest of the world to to try this you know it’s uh it can help in a lot of ways you know and um with me it let it helps me uh stay calm I like drinking one right before I go to sleep you know especially after the hard day of training and it relaxing my it’s almost like a relaxer for me so it’s super good and to hear people saying it and it’s a very good way to you know if if people like drinking alcohol and they they want that buzz and they want that feeling of like just feeling you know good and let loose without waking up the next day with a I think uh I think new new brw is the move to you for you but there’s no alcohol in it or or is there no right no alcohol no alcohol it’s a euphoric seler they do stuff it’s 21 and over but it’s no alcohol there’s no alcohol no no cannabis in it it’s just it’s just the uh it’s the cavar root and um I’m forgetting what other what other Leaf is in it but those things mixed together gives you uh it can give you two things you know it can give you um it can make you feel calm or or it can give you energy because there there is a little bit a tad bit of a a tad bit of U from one from one of the leavs there’s a what am I saying I’m freaking brain Fring right now you’re good don’t worry it’s early it’s early there it is yeah it’s it’s 8 am here but it is what it is so so aside from obviously you have this is an exciting new partnership with new brw what what else is going on in the life of Max Holloway we see uh you know a lot of things you know crazy U we just got new Brew um I don’t know if you guys heard but I just hit that we just hit the announcement that I’m side with kick another uh another gaming online streaming uh services so that’s super cool I I love playing games you know what I mean so at the end of the day I always loved um having that building that Community with gaming you know I always tell everybody that I can only get punched in the face for so long you know but I can sit in front a monitor and play some video games for quite a while you know I see I see grandmas and grandpas out there streaming right now live streaming so yeah we just we just signed a big deal with kick we got new brw um I got to meet somebody that I was watching not too not too long ago uh and with the Formula One guys and I was uh I was able to go out there train with Daniel Ricardo for a little bit so it was pretty pretty sick man it been the last the last couple days been pretty cool announcements and and pretty fun things get done how were things uh back home in Hawaii I was actually at a pro wrestling show last night and Ronda Rousey was in the main event it was an independent show and all proceeds went to the Lina you know Wildfire relief H how are things going back there awesome that’s awesome it it’s still moving man it’s still moving the the the people of Lina is um they’re strong people man they’re moving it Forward they’re making it happen and um I I I I think it’s not it’s I I I think think they’re not trying to put it behind it but right now I think they’re at the point of rebuilding so they want to move forward you know they they they’re really trying hard they’re stepping forward the community is still stronger than ever um it’s just it’s unreal man it’s unreal to see I mean you got to you got to go there and just see the way that people are operating the and the things that people are getting done it’s just it’s amazing man it’s amazing to say they’re all moving forward um right now I I think they’re in the processes of seeing what they’re going to do build the land uh see their house and a lot of them are holding the land a lot of the people are holding the land so that’s that’s really good to hear I’m super excited and a lot of them is moving forward so it’s a it’s it’s a real good thing going on right now yeah that’s good news because obviously I think you know everyone on the mainland our our thoughts are still with everything going on over there um I I just want to ask you a about a few MMA related things Max there was uh there was a big fight with alander banovski and Islam makf and it was that was something that might have changed the trajectory of what was going on in the featherweight Division I heard at one point that there was even maybe talk of you fighting ilot topor very preliminary talk of that of that interim fight happening guess that’s not gonna happen right now so where are you at right now as far as the featherweight division in the UFC uh we see what happens you know we see what happens um you know with the is vul fight you know and vul was supposed to turn around so fast in January but they they pushed it back for him you know which is um which is cool to see I I think uh I think that time that timeline is a is still a tight squeeze after a fight like that but it is what it is you know I think he got some of the best coaches and I think so if Eugene G him blessing to go and fight then you know because Eugene is super super big on uh on brain held and concussions I mean look what happened when um what’s his name uh 25 driver that fought yeah yeah look what happened when they pulled him out of a card you know on top of that that big fight so with Kai with Kai France so I I think those coach got to handle it they have an idea and they know what they’re doing you know and if if V saying he’s ready to go and uh and Feb he’s ready to go so we get to see you know I don’t know what’s next for me we see what happens um I would like to think ideally and most people I think would like to agree or even fans or whatever it is even if you’re a hater you know what’s next for me at 45 you know if if that title shot goes either way no I’ll be the next one next who else is there what’s next for me in that weight we see what happens you know but with the Islam and Charles fight maybe happening before the summer before Ramadan you know I was shooting my shot with for the BMF with with with the Highlight you know uh I think we both could uh we both would make a fun for the fans uh there’s that BMF belt I know they short on guys for uh UFC 300 so that that’d be uh that’d be ideal you know maybe go up for one for the fan just because you know he he’s gonna be waiting if stuff didn’t fight uh before Ramadan he’s gonna have to wait all the way to October and his last fight was what when was his last fight that’d be over a year and a half right a little bit closer pushing closer to a year and a half and I don’t think he should be sitting around that long you know so in the meantime why not just have a fun one both make a lot of money and we both was gonna we’re going to put on a show and we make a lot of fans happen so that that was idea I was leaning know I know I saw him I think it was the interview with you right was Interview with you yeah he said he didn’t want to yeah that that dude so cool bro that’s why he’s just the he’s the nicest guy ever bro he’s the nicest before he’s in the UFC there’s a story before he’s in the UFC I fought at uh Pepsi Pepsi Center uh we had uh we had all kind of things lined up things f so true he ended up driving us around a couple days so you know Justin gate is a different dude this is before before he is in anything you know he was like telling us he had his car he had everything his car pretty much he’s like telling us I live out his car with his dog so and he drove us bro he’s like you guys need anywhere to go I got you guys need any drive any place to go just let me know and you know gate is that dude you know I my think so he’s so nice and stuff but man I wouldn’t want Talent like that to be sitting down for a year for for a title shot you know I understand where it coming from understand why he wants to because he he deserves the next shot you know I think so the BMF BR was I think so they both him and DUS Bol knew that whoever won this title is probably getting the next title shot you know after the Olivera fight and we see bro we see but bro but if that could happen you know I mean I mean look at your face bro when people saw I saw me even bring up the BMF belt people was cheesing so you know happens it happens if not I don’t know I don’t know what we do at 45 you know in my in my mind the only right thing is the winner of Toria and stuff in Fe in February and VY so we see what happens you know we see what happens UFC I mean we saw crazy stuff in the UFC happen all the time you know who knows maybe Dana White call me up and he gets me a boxing fight with someone I I don’t know we it’s it’s it’s the UFC man Dana Dana White is known for trying the nastiest curve balls in all of history it’s it’s funny with the gatei interview too because I interviewed him and uh even before I think it came out you had quote tweeted something else saying that you’d want to do the BMF fight in the interview with Justin I asked him if you were to defend the BMF title who would be like a worthy opponent and the name that he came up with the only name that he came up with was Max Holloway and uh but he said he didn’t want to fight you because he said you’re too nice of a guy he would he wouldn’t want to he wouldn’t yeah he’s the man he’s the man but tell him tell him that that yeah he’s the man for that bro g g is funny but um I guess if if we if you don’t want me to be nice I can say brother there that one time you almost exposed me to the World on on that scale so come on we got you gotta let me get that back you know oh Jokes Aside man yeah he he’s a great dude he’s a good dude you know and um if that fight comes to fruition then then so be it but if not you know it is what it is we we’ll go back to enjoying B we see who’s next and and I mean it seems like the featherweight title picture especially if to wins right like it’s pretty clear that you should be able to slide right in there yeah you know we see what happens you know I don’t if if Tabor wins I I don’t know what way they go you know in my mind uh uh stuff is you know he he did not lose at at featherweight yet vul but then how do you give a rematch to man who would be on a three loss lose streak now you know but like I said I don’t know there’s a lot of there’s a lot of things that that needs to plan out and play out and to be honest bro like I I want to F I want to fight bulk bro I don’t want to fight nobody else because if I don’t fight bulk there’s going to be a lot of ners and this and that and blah blah blah you know I really I really want that back you know and um we see what happens you know we see what happens only only one can guess only one can think until until uh we get contracts until stuff happens so I want to fight for short in February but um if something else pops up and you know UFC can bang my line especially like I said I mean everybody everybody would be happy about with that BMF one you know and and all the Champions if you look at it all the Champions there’s no Champions to fight on UFC 300 you know and even with that news of Connor saying that they might hold Connor out for the international fight week then you know who’s it going to be you know the only guy I can see fighting on there is the guys who fought in November the 205 with the heavyweights but I don’t know they wanted to do Jon Jones and St maybe Alex will fight somebody at 205 Alex poent but but um Pereira but who’s going to be the main event of 300 you know it’s only fitting bro they want violence they know who to call you know I guess it’d be a blessed highlight or highlight blessed what what whatever you want to call it it’d be a fun one you sold me you’ve sold me on that one just just to the last couple questions Max are you are you still kind of in the in the McGregor sweep sakes is that still a possibility you think I know that Chandler’s probably next one but I I don’t even know if ch’s gonna get the next one who knows bro Conor McGregor McGregor fights who he wants to fight you know and I’m always on the short list for him you know I mean uh I mean I I probably irks him that was the only man that he didn’t you know get to put away in the in that in the featherweight division so we see you know I know nothing but respect for the guy I’m glad he’s coming back it’s going to be great for the sport that he’s coming back and um you know a lot of people are saying chanler but you know Conor McGregor you think so you think so uh Dana White got a nasty curveball Conor’s curveball is way more nasty than him so at the end of the day we see what happens you know I’m always I’m always on the short list for a dude um just glad that there is talks of him coming back and we actually wait to see when that when that talk is you know everything is talking to until it’s not until the making I walk to the Octagon so we see what happens you know like I said like I’ve been saying you can look at all my own interviews I’m on the short list for that conter fight he knows it his fans know it me him is probably fight we were’re in fighting talks today both D we both finally retire so you know I I think we’re gonna I think we’re you’re going to see that one in the future especially with him coming back so you know just time’s the essence two last ones stre Max and thanks again for taking the time out I really appreciate it I have to ask you about your your Halloween costume with your your lovely wife Alysa Alisa Alysa Alissa ala Alysa ala uh the chainsaw man and there was I think there was another one as well tell me about this yeah yeah yeah yeah uh yeah we did a chainsaw man and then we had a family dinner or like a family function where uh you dress up as a couple you got dress up as a couple and brother I tell you what people was trying to come to cancel me on that on that one and I was laughing I was like brother it’s a Halloween what are you doing wait what was it I I I I uh if you saw one of my fights I dressed up as her and she dressed yeah yeah that’s right that’s right I saw yeah yeah yeah yeah what was wrong about that I don’t know bro trying to cancel me but you know jokes on them you know they they got cancelled trying to cancel me so you know Life’s good life’s all right and I I have no idea bro it’s Halloween you know what I mean we we went to a party where you had to dress up as your significant auth there and uh you know I mean I could have went worse I could have been in a bikini you guys are lucky that you guys lucky that you know so at the end of the day it is what it is is fun uh I love Halloween Man Halloween is Halloween is good fun especially for my wife she’s one that always like picks out our uh picks out like not not picks out like does the research goes out and finds our finds our custom you know so we did Naruto today I we did Naruto this season this year again me and me and Rush rushers Naruto I was jiah and then we did the chainsaw man the chainsaw man Ms is is just unreal man that thing is sick are you the denji of of the UFC just wrecking just wrecking people brother I mean they’re have to yeah you know I I guess so it’s funny you know you know it’s funny bro uh I just saw a stat a lot of guys like people uh somebody on the internet called me pillow hands and then so one of my true fans what whoever you are if you’re watching this thank you I love you for this they put a stat of like of my finishes and I have just as much as Knockouts or finishes as like Dustin puer or something in all of UF see with like 10 or something so I’m like what the hell are these guys talking about you know so it was a good time you know it’s good fun I mean fans are the best fans are great and if if I’m dingi if I’m the chainsaw man that that’s awesome last thing I I’ve never asked you this before I don’t think I had the opportunity to ask you this before but I was told uh a little while ago by your fmer manager Chris daget that you had a relationship with Brody Lee who was a pro wrestler uh you know very popular guy who passed away a couple years ago is is that accurate and and what was that relationship like just mostly like you know messaging each other I know he was a big MMA fan and a big hway fan yeah I think so it was just more messaging I don’t I I never I never got to really uh spend time or whatever but like that’s on Instagram and especially where we especially our sport brother like I I I trip out on how how big the sport really is you know um a lot of people reach out to me it helps me a lot with gaming or anything in the world like you know bro Lee like I never got to meet the guy or whatever but yeah we we would we would exchange DMS here and there cuz he was he was a fan but also guys like even like Daniel Ricardo Bro like I like you know this man I would he’s a huge fan bro he was like bring his his fight one we we did this thing for EA Sports and they asked him one of questions like what fight do you wish happened that never happened that that’s supposed to happen and he said the Tony versus khabib fight you know what I mean like that’s how that’s how into UFC is I was like what the hell why would you want to see it fight and then he explained why and he’s like cuz the three to four times it happened blah blah blah like I was like holy like he’s going in and then he’s like talking to me about fights he talked to me about my fight with cob I was like what the hell like this I didn’t know like I didn’t know that a lot of people love UFC bro it’s it’s insane I mean I mean fighting is in all of us right I mean we all fought one time even if it’s just with your cousins or your or with your with your brother or your siblings you know or whatever it may be we all got fighting in us if somebody get mad even if we can’t fight our instinct is to let’s fight you know what I mean let’s wrestle or something so I guess so we’re all we’re all connected in that way but yeah at the end day I wouldn’t say was was like U I wouldn’t be like oh yeah my best friend or whatever but you know the DMS uh the Instagram and stuff is uh is always cool we find out a lot of people are are fans of fighting and it just it just blows my mind I find like wow this guy’s a fan of fighting you know like it’s amazing for sure Max thank you so much uh congrats again on the partnership with new brw should be great and hopefully we’ll see you back early 2024 UFC 300 BMF title I hope so bro I hope so right now in my mind if if this was the perfect world i’ tell you about fights if this was a perfect world hopefully we can fight no no later than April maybe turn around maybe do a fast turn around try and get uh uh try try to get one in the summer again and then maybe one more in the end of the year if I can get three fights this year that’d be great but um you know I I know uh at the ending of the year we might have something going on like like personal and stuff so if I can fight before that too if I can fight before that so if it’s March April perfect maybe International maybe a little bit after September October that that that’d be the bless timeline bro that would be that’ be the best ever is uh is Rush getting a a little brother or sister H bro I hopefully soon I you know I don’t want to drinx nothing or whatever but I I want to yeah that that that’d be awesome bro you know we we ain’t not trying you know I had the kid is GNA be turning 12 in the stuff so he’s gonna be he’s gonna be 12 here in in January so at least you know the good side if we do have a kid we got uh we got somebody that can be a free Nanny you know fre babysitter so that’s what’s up Max thank you so much man I really appreciate it we’ll see you soon thank you brother see you later bro thanks [Applause] [Music] man [Music] oh