UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway told ESPN’s Ariel Helwani he is feeling much better after a health scare earlier this month and wants to defend the belt before the end of 2018. Holloway was forced to pull out of UFC 226’s co-main event with Brian Ortega just two days before the July 7 event due to concussion-like symptoms.
Ortega opted to withdraw from the card altogether and wait for Holloway’s health to return rather than face another opponent in Las Vegas that weekend. No official date is set for the title fight.
“I’ve seen multiple doctors and experts, but they haven’t been able to give any answers about what happened,” Holloway said. “But I’m OK. I’m going to fight again. That’s all we know.”
Holloway is still unsure exactly what caused his health to deteriorate the week of UFC 226. He said he never suffered an actual concussion in training. The Hawaii native said he said he was “conned” into going to the emergency room on Monday before the bout after being told he was going to do media obligations. He was released Tuesday afternoon but the symptoms continued and was deemed unfit to compete.
The UFC’s medical staff placed him on a 30-day suspension. He recently saw a specialist in Las Vegas who had good news.
“All of the tests were great,” Holloway says. “When you hear those kind of things, it’s great but yet scary. You want to know what’s wrong. It’s crazy we just don’t have the answers. I’m just glad I’m healthy and OK.”