Ankle injury keeping Holloway out of UFC 208, still wants Aldo fight
Max Holloway's management posted a picture Wednesday on Instagram showing an ankle injury that is limiting the fighter's training and rendering him unable to compete in the near future.
The image was posted as part of a response to UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo's accusations that Holloway is avoiding a fight with him.
Related - Aldo: Holloway fight off, expects interim lightweight title bout instead
Holloway challenged Aldo to a unification bout Feb. 11 following a win over Anthony Pettis at UFC 206 that earned Holloway an interim featherweight belt. However, he told Damon Martin of FOX Sports that his callout was one of passion as opposed to something he'd properly thought through. He also explained that he challenged Aldo before discovering the injury he suffered during the Pettis fight.
"The next morning I woke, my (expletive) ankle was swollen as an elephant's leg," Holloway said. "I told the UFC ASAP what was up and I don't know why they didn't announce it, but I went to the doctors as soon as possible and I was told I can't do nothing for four-to-six weeks. No contact, no nothing on my ankle. I can't be kicking, I can't be doing anything."
The 25-year-old Hawaiian was further infuriated by Aldo's insinuation that Holloway was reneging on a previously agreed deal to fight if he got past Pettis. According to Holloway, there was no such agreement with Aldo or the UFC, and it's Aldo who has been avoiding him - and several other tough fights - based on the Brazilian's injury history.
"He says he never turned down a fight - you never showed up to six of the fights," Holloway said. "Great, you never turned down a fight, now show up to the damn things. You pulled out of six fights. I don't know (how) he prides himself on 'I never turned down a fight' but then didn't show up for six fights. Get out of here with that talk.
"That's the thing (that) pisses me off. This guy's trying to run my name through the mud. I never turned down a fight. I have more wins on this 10-fight win streak than he has wins in the UFC. This guy should calm down."
Holloway currently owns 12 wins at 145 pounds, a divisional record. If all goes well with his recovery, he's planning to add to that number by the time summer 2017 rolls around.
"I want to make sure I take care of this injury, heal up and then maybe (be back at the) beginning of May or the end of April if that works."