UFC Singapore - Bittersweet
An incredible set of fights in Singapore culminated in a very bittersweet moment in the main event, where Max Holloway once again showed that he isn’t going anywhere.
This was built up to be the last fight of The Korean Zombie’s long and storied MMA career, and Singapore was a great destination for such an occasion. Picking Max Holloway for you final fight is a very ballsy move though, but also fitting of TKZ’s career, as he never shied away from a challenge. Both Holloway and Zombie are veterans of the game, but at vastly different points in their careers. While Zombie has been on a downwards slope, Holloway is still at the very top of the featherweight division, and dominant champion Alex Volkanovski is the only one who has his number.
So a lot of fans were nervous on Zombie’s behalf, especially after seeing the beating he took against Volkanovski last year, and Holloway was still putting beatings on everyone he fought. When it got to the walkouts though, I think everyone got goosebumps, both from Zombie’s and Holloway’s walkouts. In usual fashion, The Korean Zombie came out to ‘Zombie’ by The Cranberries, and the entire arena where singing when it got to the chorus. It was a welcome the Korean superstar deserved, and he really took it all in on the way to the cage. Holloway on the other hand, wanted to honour the people of Maui with his walkout. It had an entirely different feeling to Zombie’s walkout, but still very emotional and chilling. We saw Holloway talk about this on media day as well, and it is clear how much in means to him and impacts him. When they got in the cage they bumped fists and got ready for war.
It was clear from the first exchange that Holloway was a few steps ahead. Zombie is always game, and while he managed to crack Holloway a fair few times, that chin is just unfair. We know that Holloway is an output machine, but while he’s landed the most significant strikes in UFC history (by a wide margin as well), he’s also received the most and never even been knocked down! He reacted to some of the shots that came his way, but never really looked in any danger at all.
In the second round is where it really started to go downhill for Zombie. Holloway knocked him down badly and it looked like the fight could be over right there, however Holloway didn’t follow up with any ground and pound which allowed Zombie to recover and grab hold of a leg. He was obviously not all there though, because Holloway quickly snatched up an anaconda choke which looked like it was locked in tight. In classical Zombie fashion he toughed it out and eventually after what felt like an eternity, Holloway let go and they returned to their feet. When the third round started, Zombie just threw caution to the wind and started pushing Holloway back. The Hawaiian landed back, but Zombie just wouldn’t stop coming forward. It only took one mistake though, as Holloway eventually found an opening and put him out cold only 23 seconds into the third. A statement victory for Holloway, and a sad end for The Korean Zombie. But while seeing a legend put out like that is a sad sight, it’s arguably better than seeing Holloway give him the Calvin Kattar treatment where he puts on a total beatdown for 25 minutes.
Nevertheless, the respect between both fighters were lovely to see, and both post-fight speeches combined with ‘Zombie’ once again playing while the Korean walked out of the cage made it a very emotional Saturday afternoon.
Now it’s onto Paris, and another European friendly start-time!