M. Holloway admits to struggling with depression last year. Photo: Reproduction/FacebookUFC)
The current featherweight champion (up to 65,8kg), Max Holloway admitted to having experienced depression during the last years of his career. Hawaiian confirmed the information in an interview with 'Sports Ilustrated'. The fighter makes his debut in the lightweight division (up to 70,3 kg) next Saturday (13), when he faces the North American Dustin poirier, UFC 236, for the interim belt in the category.
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“Man, the last fight (against Brian ortega) was very emotional for me. A year before, I had a lot of struggles and went through depression. I was struggling, in some way, with depression. It was crazy to have to fight like that”, commented the athlete.
Holloway said he is used to fighting more than twice in a year. For example, in 2015, Max entered the octagon on four different occasions, which, for a UFC athlete, is a great feat. In the last two years, 'Blassed' has held three fights.
“In the last year, three fights have been taken away from me. I felt bad. After that, doctors recovered me twice. I'm used to fighting two to four times a year, and now I fight once. I had no control and I didn’t say anything”, commented Max, who was still worried about the possibility of the illness putting an end to his career. “After the things that happened, I was thinking: 'man, what if I don't fight anymore?'” asked the champion.
Holloway, however, appears to have learned some good lessons from the situation. According to the athlete, he considers himself a better person after the illness and says he is in excellent condition to face Dustin poirier on next Saturday.
“I grew a lot as a person. A true champion is someone who can hit rock bottom and come back. For the next fight, Dustin and I had ups and downs. We are currently at our peak and are competing for the title of one of the most dangerous divisions in the world”, concluded Max.
Holloway, 27, is on an impressive run of 13 fights without defeat. His last setback came in 2013, when he was defeated by Conor McGregor in a unanimous decision by the judges.
If he wins the fight against Poirier this Saturday, Holloway will join the select group of fighters who have won belts in different categories.
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