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Manager: Max Holloway initially wanted UFC 223 fight at welterweight

Before agreeing to a lightweight title fight, Max Holloway wanted to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov on six days’ notice at welterweight, according to his manager.

Brian Butler-Au of SuckerPunch Entertainment said the UFC featherweight champion did not hesitate when offered the Nurmagomedov UFC 223 bout this past weekend following Tony Ferguson’s fight-cancelling knee injury. Butler-Au’s only concern was whether “Blessed” would be able to make the 155-pound weight limit in such little time, but once Holloway’s nutrition team said he could do it, Butler-Au was 100-percent in.

“[Holloway] immediately said to me, ‘Let’s f-cking do it, bro.