Max Holloway was the runaway train we never saw coming. When he debuted in the UFC back in 2012 at just 20 years old, he was the youngest fighter on the roster. Unsurprisingly, Holloway went through early struggles. After his first six bouts in the Octagon, he was just 3-3.
Few fighters have started their careers with this kind of arc and gone on to become a UFC champion. Usually, greatness manifests itself early. But Holloway grew, worked, grinded and started racking up wins. He stopped four opponents in a row. Then, he outclassed veteran Cole Miller. And then, when he choked out Cub Swanson, there was no more hiding that Holloway had evolved past most expectations for him.