Report: Holloway cleared to train, offers to be backup for title bout

Max Holloway is one step closer to returning to the Octagon.

The former UFC featherweight champion was medically cleared to resume training Thursday and offered to serve as the backup fighter for an April title fight, sources told ESPN's Brett Okamoto.

Holloway was scheduled to challenge Alexander Volkanovski for the 145-pound belt on March 5, but he withdrew last month after aggravating a prior injury. Initially, there wasn't a timeline for his return.

Less than a week later, the UFC selected Chan Sung Jung as Holloway's replacement and moved the Volkanovski fight to UFC 273 on April 9.

Holloway reportedly informed the promotion he's available to serve as a backup for that bout, which would involve him weighing in on the Friday before the event and potentially stepping in on short notice should anything happen to Volkanovski or "The Korean Zombie."

The UFC is aware of Holloway's offer but hasn't decided if he'll be a backup, Okamoto adds.

Holloway had an impressive 2021 campaign, dominating Calvin Kattar in January in one of the best performances in recent memory and then defeating Yair Rodriguez in a "Fight of the Year" candidate in November.

The Hawaiian, ranked No. 1 in the featherweight division behind Volkanovski, has fought the champion twice. He lost the title to Volkanovski by unanimous decision in December 2019 and then fell short in a July 2020 rematch by a much-closer split decision.