Bruce Buffer was still in the midst of announcing Max Holloway as the winner of last night’s UFC main event when the reigning featherweight champion attempted a noble gesture. He and his challenger Frankie Edgar had shared a quick embrace, and as they separated, Holloway grabbed Edgar’s lift wrist, attempting to hoist his arm into the air.
In Holloway’s eyes, Edgar was still a champion. Growing up in on the Hawaiian island of O’ahu, Holloway had admired several fighters. Near the top of the list was Edgar, an undersized but scrappy lightweight who had risen to the top of his division mostly on will.