Max is Only 31, Probably Will Be Champ Again Realistically

[fizzlehiss]

He is in a very weird position since Volk can be at the top for a while if he comfortably beats Topuria. He's too small for LW and too big for 135. He just might as well try his best to completely tune all his training to beat Volk because it's the only thing he can do for a belt.

 

[LouDee16]

max is just awesome... and his chin is effing legendary

 

[chimpoehurricane]

If Volk retires or loses, Holloway will be right there, he’s way closer to it than anyone else in the division right now including Topuria. It’s way more realistic that Max gets a fourth Volk fight or wins the belt again than someone like Ilia winning it. I actually think people writing him off from being champ again is a little asinine. Volk could even retire and Max could easily get the belt back.

He hasn't evolved. He's volume but it fails him vs Diamond or Volk though he got robbed in the rematch.

 

[chimpoehurricane]

max is just awesome... and his chin is effing legendary

Agreed. He lasted at 21 vs Conor prime and nobody can take that left hand shot.

 

[Sean Ryan]

At this point, I'm just going to enjoy watch Max fight. It's a pleasure.

Absolutely.
He's great to watch and possibly the most likeable guy in the entire sport.

 

[CashMoney1991]

Him vs Justin for number one contender at 55 would get my vote

 

[StonedLemur]

Very true!
He was definitely a JBG type of fighter;
He did have a rough stretch there at the end of his career, though.

Don't most fighters have that stretch sir? Lol.

 

[mjfan23]

He beat a geriatric. Calm down

 

[lagofala]

There's no interest in a 4th fight except from Max's team i guess. Even most of Max's fans don't want fight 4.

His best bet is to either wait for Volk to move up or for Volk to lose at FW. Or he could bulk up and fight at 155. But we all saw what happened when he moved up.

 

[Christhammer]

If Volk retires or loses, Holloway will be right there, he’s way closer to it than anyone else in the division right now including Topuria. It’s way more realistic that Max gets a fourth Volk fight or wins the belt again than someone like Ilia winning it. I actually think people writing him off from being champ again is a little asinine. Volk could even retire and Max could easily get the belt back.

If age was relative then you'd be right. He's an OLDDDD 31, and old 31 year old brawlers don't age like wine.

 

[mkt]

No, Carlos wasn't a stand and bang fighter but he was getting hit by the likes of Lawler and such.

I think that's accurate. He did have the ability to sense an opportunity and go for the kill sometimes, though. I guess that's where he got his nickname. He had quite a few finishes, some in the 1st round and others late in the fight when he needed to a finish to win (like his fight against a young Rory where he got a TKO in the final seconds of the 3rd round). He was almost like a poor man's Anderson Silva, who could suddenly go into "matrix" mode. Unfortunately for him, he never pulled this off against elite competition in big fights (GSP, Hendricks, Lawler, Woodley, Shields in the ROTR final). He finished a lot of good fighters, though (Alves, Kampmann, a green Rory, Kim, Hardy, etc.).

 

[LEWIS540]

He is in a very weird position since Volk can be at the top for a while if he comfortably beats Topuria. He's too small for LW and too big for 135. He just might as well try his best to completely tune all his training to beat Volk because it's the only thing he can do for a belt.

Isn’t he legit one of the biggest weight cutters in UFC history?

Heard no one has eaten as many punchers or cut as many pounds as he has.

 

[Dana's Conscience]

Max is like 38 in dog years though

 

[jitzmonkey]

Don't most fighters have that stretch sir? Lol.

That’s kind of what we’re talking about, right?
Max is still the man.
we’re not only looking at his prior accomplishments.
All that said, with the amount of in cage physical trauma that he has suffered over an extended period of time, it’s not unreasonable to believe that he could hit a wall any day.
Would I favor him against everyone ranked below him? It’s hard not to.
Like other former top flight fighters on whom we have a lot of tape to study(this is of course one aspect,) someone’s going to come up with a blueprint to beat him.
His ridiculously solid fundamentals (which allow him to throw at such a high volume,) are going to make that task extremely difficult.
And of course, it takes more than just a blueprint. It takes someone with the wherewithal.


As always, reasonable argument on your part, though!

 

[jsbx45]

He's got a shot....except he already has 3 losses to the champ. Would the UFC do a fourth?

 

[StonedLemur]

That’s kind of what we’re talking about, right?
Max is still the man.
we’re not only looking at his prior accomplishments.
All that said, with the amount of in cage physical trauma that he has suffered over an extended period of time, it’s not unreasonable to believe that he could hit a wall any day.
Would I favor him against everyone ranked below him? It’s hard not to.
Like other former top flight fighters on whom we have a lot of tape to study(this is of course one aspect,) someone’s going to come up with a blueprint to beat him.
His ridiculously solid fundamentals (which allow him to throw at such a high volume,) are going to make that task extremely difficult.
And of course, it takes more than just a blueprint. It takes someone with the wherewithal.


As always, reasonable argument on your part, though!

Unfortunately you're right sir, and someone will figure him out...but also that the wall can be hit at any moment.
That being said, I would like to live in my delusions where he doesn't get beat again and his chin stays granite lol... (which of course I know can't happen).

The reality is you're speaking sense and im just not wanting my favorite fighter to take much more damage

 

[StonedLemur]

I think that's accurate. He did have the ability to sense an opportunity and go for the kill sometimes, though. I guess that's where he got his nickname. He had quite a few finishes, some in the 1st round and others late in the fight when he needed to a finish to win (like his fight against a young Rory where he got a TKO in the final seconds of the 3rd round). He was almost like a poor man's Anderson Silva, who could suddenly go into "matrix" mode. Unfortunately for him, he never pulled this off against elite competition in big fights (GSP, Hendricks, Lawler, Woodley, Shields in the ROTR final). He finished a lot of good fighters, though (Alves, Kampmann, a green Rory, Kim, Hardy, etc.).

All true, but he did almost pop GSPs head off with a kick lol.
I always liked Carlos though, a real good fighter.

 

[chiefwiggum]

He could be 145 isn’t a stacked division but max is an ancient 31.
Zombie is ancient in fight years and hasn’t looked good for many years. Ortega looked like Roy jones jr against kz.
Nd I don’t think max looked great yesterday b even Allen. He’s at the top by circumstance. Not because he’s a great fighter.

 

[ChickenBrother]

I think like Penn his deterioration will be considerable and accelerated

I fully expect Max to start declining soon. I even think he’s already showing signs of decay. He has a lot of mileage. I always point to Rory MacDonald that fights mileage is real thing and won’t matter the age.

He’s not gonna get another title shot against Volk. He’s really just there for a young contender to beat him and be used as a stepping stone. When that will happen I don’t know, but he’s gonna have that moment unfortunately.

Nah he’s already peaked, and has taken too much damage.

Hate to say it, but I agree. Dude's taken too much damage over his career. But teaching Ortega how to block during their fight was some GOAT shit.

 

[jitzmonkey]

Unfortunately you're right sir, and someone will figure him out...but also that the wall can be hit at any moment.
That being said, I would like to live in my delusions where he doesn't get beat again and his chin stays granite lol... (which of course I know can't happen).

The reality is you're speaking sense and im just not wanting my favorite fighter to take much more damage

Still wouldn’t put money on it until it happens.