MMAjunkie's '2017 Men's Fighter of the Year': Max Holloway's old-school approach felt new again

It was a good year to be a maker of weirdly futuristic metallic ties.

That’s because 2017 saw the rise of Max Holloway, a hard-nosed Hawaiian with an unconventional sense of style and a swagger that he started to truly own at right around the same time that he also became the sole owner of the UFC featherweight title.

It might seem strange for a guy who only beat one opponent to be named MMAjunkie’s “2017 Fighter of the Year.” After ending 2016 with a TKO win over Anthony Pettis to claim the UFC interim featherweight title, Holloway fought twice in the last calendar year, both times against 145-pound legend Jose Aldo.

Holloway (19-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) didn’t just beat the longtime champion twice – he finished him. In two tries, the guy who held the featherweight strap for half a decade couldn’t get past the third round against the 26-year-old Holloway. And the second beatdown was even worst than the first.

In fairness, Holloway told us this was coming. His path to the undisputed title was littered with repeated warnings that we were entering the “Blessed” era, so we might as well get ready.

“I match up with anyone in the world,” Holloway said prior to his bout with Pettis at the end of 2016. “Put me in there with anyone – I don’t care. I’m the best guy in the world, and I believe it. I believe in myself. If you don’t believe in yourself, then what are you doing this stuff for? I believe in my damn self. I know I’m here for a reason, and I just can’t wait to prove it.”

Holloway proved it against Pettis, and then set his sights on Aldo. When he showed up in Brazil to fight the longtime champ on his own turf, Holloway brought a soccer ball as a gift.

“The old boy said he wants to play soccer after he’s done fighting,” Holloway said. “Us Hawaiians, we like to give gifts, and this gift is for him. He’s going into retirement. It’s right here. He can have the ball, and we can get this fight going.”

It’s only hubris if you lose. If you win, and then win the rematch in even more dominant fashion six months later, then it’s just well-earned confidence.

Holloway not only starts 2018 as the clear and unquestioned king of the featherweight division, he’s also the owner of an awful lot of UFC featherweight records.

He has the most fights in the division’s history (17), the most wins (14), the most stoppages (nine), the most knockouts (seven), and the longest winning streak (11).

But beyond the numbers, what Holloway brought to featherweight and to the UFC in 2017 was a fresh new energy. Here was a young champion, sauntering into his prime, with an eye on cementing himself as one of the all-time greats – and he wasn’t shy about saying so.

At a time when other champs are focused more on quick money and fame than they are on proving themselves in the cage again and again, Holloway’s old-school approach felt new again. Headed into the new year, here’s a champion worth getting excited about.

Also see:

• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Fight of the Year’: Debuting champion lives up to hype
• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Knockout of the Year’: A head-rattling heavyweight finish
• MMAjunkie’s ‘Submission of the Year’ for 2017: An insane finish makes history
• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Comeback Fighter of the Year’ is a pretty obvious choice
• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Comeback of the Year’: Darren Elkins lives up to ‘The Damage’ nickname
• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Under-the-Radar Fighter of the Year’: A champion before joining UFC
• MMAjunkie ‘2017 Upset of the Year’: Thug Rose! Thug Rose! Thug Rose!
• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Breakout Fighter of the Year’: UFC newcomer wasted no time rising up
• MMAjunkie’s 2017 ‘Newcomer of the Year’: Despite late slip-up, Californian made mark in hurry
• MMAjunkie ‘2017 Round of the Year’: Absolutely menacing highlight
• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Robbery of the Year’: The MMA gods giveth, and they taketh away
• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Coach of the Year’: Former champion becoming standout instructor
• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Gym of the Year’: New entrant makes immediate impact