Max Holloway embarked on a 13-fight win streak following a loss to Conor McGregor at the very beginning of his UFC career.

It was only Holloway’s sixth fight in the UFC, but already his third loss – having debuted for the promotion in February 2012, losing out to Dustin Poirier by first-round submission.

The defeat to McGregor changed everything for HollowayGetty

That would be the final time ‘Blessed’ would experience defeat in the octagon for six years, so you could say he certainly lived out his nickname.

“It just came because of the things I was able to accomplish in the time I did,” Holloway once said.

“So, my coach at the time simply said, ‘You’re blessed, man.’ The nickname just stuck.”

Holloway’s time perched at the UFC’s summit was indeed blessed, as it included a three-year long title reign, whilst competing to become a two-division champion at lightweight. 

He is one of the most accomplished fighters to have ever contested in the UFC and deemed one of MMA’s all-time greatest strikers.

The Hawaiin native’s record is stacked with huge wins, including back-to-back featherweight title defences over Jose Aldo in 2017 and victories over Charles Oliveira, Anthony Pettis and Brian Ortega.

The 145-pound belt could have literally been renamed the Max Holloway belt during his unbeaten run.

In fact, his winning streak at featherweight actually extended to 14 wins in five years, as his second fight with Poirier in 2019 was for interim lightweight championship status.

Although he lost the bout with ‘The Diamond’, in a naturally heavier division, Holloway would go on to defend his beloved featherweight belt against Frankie Edgar three months later.

Holloway made his way into the UFC via The Ultimate Fighter, a reality television show that gives prospects the opportunity to earn a contract with Dana White’s promotion.

McGregor had Holloway on the back foot earlyUFC

And got the better of ‘Blessed’ on the groundUFC

Which he continued until the last roundUFC

To beat Holloway via unanimous decisionUFC

In fact, when the 32-year-old made his debut against Poirier he was the youngest fighter on the UFC roster.

Holloway entered the bout with McGregor coming off a loss to Dennis Bermudez just three months prior.

McGregor, on the other hand, was hot property, having already been crowned a two-division champion at Cage Warriors before he was signed by UFC President White.

It was the Irishman who got off to a better start in the pair’s 2013 bout, setting the tone early with kicks and jabs that Holloway was unable to match.

In the second round, McGregor was able to control the stand-up game and even took him to the ground at one point, which set a strategy that would remain for the rest of the fight.

McGregor was able to utilise his naturally bigger frame, putting Holloway on his back again at the end of the fight and dominating on the ground.

‘Blessed’ attempted to create distance from McGregor’s lethal shots but ‘The Notorious’ was always quicker to the punch.

Holloway knocked out Gaethje at UFC 300 to earn his title shotGetty

Holloway lost the fight via unanimous decision, but it couldn’t have been a bigger lesson for ‘Blessed’, as it ultimately set the foundations for an extremely successful career.

Now, for the first time since his trilogy of defeats to Alexander Volkanovski, Holloway is involved in a championship fight once again.

He knocked out Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 and now faces Ilia Topuria for the opportunity to reclaim the featherweight belt.

Back in December 2019, Holloway dropped the belt to Volkanovski, who Topuria knocked out to be crowned the new champion at featherweight.

Topruia ended Volkanovski’s long reign as champion – something Holloway failed to achieveGetty

To become the new featherweight champion, which he now defends against Holloway at UFC 308Getty

He lost the rematch seven months later at UFC 251 and found himself fighting Volkanovski again, following wins over Calvin Kattar and Yair Rodriguez. 

Holloway lost all three of his bouts with Volkanovski via decision after five rounds – a similar pattern of his entire career – as he has never been knocked out.

In the buildup to the pair’s highly-anticipated bout at UFC 308, Topuria has promised to be the first man to KO Holloway.

talkSPORT.com has you covered for everything UFC 308, which takes place in the UAE on October 26.