For as active and dynamic as former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway can be inside the cage delivering combinations, his sound bites have long lacked the crispness of his striking.
If pressed to bare his soul ahead of big fights, the 28-year-old Holloway cuts straight to the point in a confident and no-nonsense way. One could even create a soundboard of well-known Holloway catchphrases to take his place in any interview.
Speaking with CBS Sports' "State of Combat" podcast on Monday ahead of this weekend's UFC 251, when Holloway looks to regain his 145-pound title in a rematch with Alexander Volkanovski, the "Blessed" one played all his greatest hits.
"It is what it is."
"At the end of the day, you'll have to tune in to see."
"I can only control what I do."
"A magician never tells his tricks."
In case you're wondering, Holloway (21-5) did throw in a few "11th island" references this time around considering Saturday's card will take place on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, even if he was upset UFC didn't choose his native Hawaii as the site for Fight Island.
Can't get enough UFC? Subscribe to our podcast State of Combat with Brian Campbell where we break down everything you need to know in the Octagon, including the complete Holloway interview and predictions for Saturday night below.
But Holloway's direct and often bland speech isn't because he lacks personality. Yet, at the same time, the way he casually explains away his succinct style as more a representation of his warrior mindset doesn't necessarily cover it either.
"I have a fighter mentality," Holloway said. "We are going to attack every problem and get over it."
This many fights into his increasingly legendary career, even if he won't willingly reveal the magic behind his tricks, it's a wonder whether Holloway is just a better poker player than we give him credit for.
Remember when Holloway was twice removed from scheduled 2018 bouts after injuries and unexplained medical scares left experts wondering if he would ever be the same? "Blessed" responded by outwilling Brian Ortega in a savage title defense that further cemented his greatness and reminded us all that Holloway is just a different animal when he enters the cage.
Less than one year later, in the aftermath of Holloway's exciting loss to Dustin Poirier when he moved up in weight to challenge for the interim lightweight title, any question as to whether five rounds of damage might slow him down were forgotten when he dominated Frankie Edgar in a masterful performance.
Holloway finds himself in a similar spot this time around where the odds seem stacked against him based upon his revelation as to how abnormal his training camp was during the coronavirus quarantine ahead of the Volkanovski rematch.
"Most of my training was done [online] through Zoom," Holloway said. "I didn't see my coaches until we got off the plane in [Las] Vegas [last week]. All good fighters, whatever you do, you adapt. We are in crazy times but I just can't wait to fight. It has been six long months for me and I can't wait to go out and do my thing."
One thing that was repeated over and over in Holloway's responses was just how excited he is to get back to fighting. Given his reputation, there's no doubt he's telling the truth. But there's a wonder as to whether he is playing a part in creating a narrative with his "it is what it is" default tone that he's not as prepared for Volkanovski's cerebral stye as he needs to be and might've made a mistake in accepting the fight under these circumstances.
Holloway has uncharacteristically grown out his hair during the quarantine and made sure upon arriving in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday to give the same bland update about how abnormal his training camp actually was. Considering how thoughtful his post-fight interview was after losing to Volkanovski by close decision in December, Holloway could very well be playing the role of a sheep in wolf's clothing coming in.
"I remember thinking, 'Wow, I lost my title. It is what it is,'" Holloway said looking back on the interview he gave after UFC 245. "I said that I know I will be back. I'm only 28, I'm only getting better. UFC is going to be seeing a lot of my face for many years to come so I ain't worried about it."
Although Volkanovski (21-1) was brilliant in disarming Holloway over the first three rounds by using footwork and angles to control distance, the defending champion seemed to figure Volkanovski out in the championship rounds. Holloway may not have had an ideal training camp to prepare physically but very few fighters have during this pandemic and he believes the leg kicks Volkanovski used to sway the judges the first time around won't be enough.
"The experts told me they gave the first three [rounds] to Volkanovski and they gave the last two to me," Holloway said. "At the end of the day, it is what it is. I'm not a judge. There are only three guys or ladies in the world whose decision matters and they went the other way.
"But let me put it this way. If Jose Aldo kicked me 20 times, I don't know what is going to come sooner: a cure for the coronavirus or me walking. Alex kicked me 80 times and if you go back and look at it, I hit him more to the head and body. There is only one way he beat me and that was with the leg kicks. I guess if I can figure out the leg kicks more, I can go out there and do my thing."
While Holloway admitted he and his camp have instituted changes to their game plan although he wouldn't share, respectfully saying he would rather show in the cage than talk. But he was quick to pump the brakes on any suggestion that the loss was a wake-up call or that fans should expect to see a "Blessed 2.0" fueled by desperation.
"It's a new 'Blessed' every time I step in there," Holloway said. "You guys are going to see something fun. Just make sure you tune in. I don't know where the fight will go, but I am ready for anything. If he wants to make it ugly, we can make it ugly. If he wants a chess match, we can have another chess match."
Holloway's mix of humility and cryptic speak about his plans could be the perfect facade for the calculated warrior who will enter the Octagon with purpose. Holloway can say all he wants about how little this fight means to his legacy or that seeing Volkanovski with his title hasn't sparked any extra motivation but he wouldn't be where he is today if it wasn't on his mind every waking second.
The value of Holloway's words before a fight ultimately hold little to no meaning on how things will play out inside the cage. It's a fact Holloway knows better than anyone. So take his words at face value with a grain of salt and, if history is any indication, expect the best version of the former champion against Volkanovski regardless of the circumstances surrounding the event.
"Everyone keeps talking to me about this and that or whatever [about losing and] the spotlight and how do I feel. I don't feel any different," Holloway said. "I don't not feel like the champ. People have still been respecting me and talking to me like I'm a champ. At the end of the day, I've got five of the belts at home in my closet. This guy can beat me two more times and I'll still have more titles than this guy.
"I know who I am, I know I am a champion. These belts don't really mean nothing. They help to prove that I'm a champion but the spotlight hasn't gone. It's really not that different, to be honest. I'm only 28 and I have a lot more left. You don't believe me? Tune in July 11. I can't wait to put on a show."
