However, if Holloway’s defense lapses at any point during this fight, Oliveira is the absolute last guy he would want feeding on his mistakes.
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Despite their youth – they are 23 and 25 respectively – the pair have forged out places in the higher echelons of the divisional rankings.
Silva is a submission based fighter and even though Magny had only two weeks to prepare, he has had time to regroup.
Much like Holloway, Oliveira also earned a third-round, submission win over a top-ten featherweight in his last outing against Nik Lentz in May that was named as the event’s “Performance Of The Night”, and the Brazilian contender will bring a four-fight run of success into Sunday’s headliner.
They Said It: “I never wanted to finish a fight so bad”, said Montreal’s Letourneau. ‘This is a five rounder and I have to be ready.
Fights for the main card, as told by UFC.com, would include Neil Magny vs. Erick Silva, Patrick Cote vs. Josh Burkman, Chad Laprise vs. Francisco Trinaldo, Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Tony Sims and Maryna Moroz and Valerie Letourneau. The reason Perez made the winners column is simple: any fighter capable of walking away from the sport on a win deserves respect. ‘A fight is a fight. If this is the only way you can view UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Oliveira, do not be deterred and the live streaming will work once the ads disappear. “In the fight with Edgar, I did some things we didn’t train to do but (after that) we sat down and created a strategy”. Being the main event just comes with more media’.
Oliveira then shot for a takedown and Holloway used his underhooks to turn the Brazilian on their way to the canvas.
Oliveira, unsurprisingly, was not in attendance for the post-fight press conference. In fact, he holds one of the most brutal TKOs in UFC history when he knocked out Yves Edwards several years ago. All my prayers to Charles. So I’m ready’. He also highlighted that he has focused on improving his already impressive striking skillset. “I trained super hard”, he said. And that might not even be his best submission when you take into consideration the modified anaconda choke he took Hatsu Hioki out with. If Max makes a mistake, he won’t be any different’.
Details are still thin on the ground, but the positive news last night was that Oliveira is alert and has shown movement in all his extremities so hopefully the highly talented 25 year-old is going to make a full recovery.
Chris Kelades of Cole Harbor, N.S., prevailed in a split decision over Chris Beal in a preliminary fight. It wasn’t pretty, but it puts him back in the win column and allows him to start distancing himself from the Maia loss.
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The pressures of a blossoming family and a “What have you done for me now” career path are a daunting task for any young man, but Holloway genuinely seems to relish the moment. The seven-minute melee earned each combatant their first Fight of the Night bonus. Max Holloway throws an overhand right at Will Chope during their featherweight fight.
