Max Holloway Produces Another Explosive Effort at UFC Fight Night 53
By Rick LaFitte
@RickLaFitte
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Featherweight prospect Max Holloway continued his exciting ways at UFC Fight Night 53 in Stockholm against Akira Corassani. The 22-year-old Hawaiian produced his fourth-straight finish by stopping the Swedish native in the first round of their co-main event clash. It was a matchup that delivered the expected firefight between two aggressive and willing combatants.
The hard-hitting Corassani definitely got Holloway’s attention early in the contest by landing a big left hook and a hard right hand. However, “Blessed” showed his sturdy chin and rallied in ferocious fashion. He would drop Corassani with a huge right hand and eventually send him to the deck for a second time for good after landing another right and a flurry of vicious follow-up punches. The end would come at the 3:11 mark of the opening stanza and would secure Holloway a Performance of the Night bonus. Corassani has now been stopped in back-to-back contests and it marked his fifth career knockout loss.
Holloway has had a very productive 2014 in securing other knockout victories over Will Chope and Clay Collard and a submission win over Andre Fili. He’s compiled a 7-3 UFC record and is battle-tested despite his tender age. Those losses have come against top-10 contenders Dustin Poirier, Dennis Bermudez and Conor McGregor. Holloway is looking for a top-15 opponent in his next bout and Dennis Siver is a name who immediately comes to mind.
The No. 11-ranked Siver earned a unanimous decision victory on the Stockholm card in a Fight of the Night performance against Charles Rosa. It was his first bout since serving a nine-month suspension after testing positive for HCG in the wake of his UFC 168 triumph over Manny Gamburyan. That unanimous decision victory was changed to a no-contest. Siver has faced plenty of top-flight competition during a lengthy 18-fight UFC career that’s been contested in the lightweight and featherweight divisions.
Both Holloway and Siver have exciting styles and a potential matchup between the two would undoubtedly produce a thrilling affair. Considering that Holloway had previously expressed an interest in facing the Octagon veteran, it would seem an attractive option for matchmakers to consider.
Rick LaFitte is an MMA Writer for Rant Sports.
