Holzer vs. Adesanya: What happened after the fight was over
Max Holzer kept his winning run going in 2025, and a moment after the final bell had everyone talking.
When Israel Adesanya finished Paulo Costa with a dominant performance back in 2020, he followed it up with one more message to leave no doubt.
After the referee stopped the fight, the middleweight champion stood over his Brazilian opponent and mimed a thrust towards him, which some felt crossed a line.
Holzer caught similar heat for how he handled his latest win, taking what ‘The Last Stylebender’ did and pushing it even further.
Max Holzer discusses the mixed impact of his OKTAGON post-fight brawl
At OKTAGON 69, Max Holzer fell out of the cage after being chased by his opponent, Deniz Ilbay.
Ilbay responded this way after Holzer celebrated his submission win by kissing him on the back of the head and mimicking Israel Adesanya’s celebration.
Speaking to Bloody Elbow ahead of his return at OKTAGON 88 on May 16, the undefeated fighter admitted that there have been some downsides to all the attention that followed.
“When I go outside, I have to take pictures with people all day but it’s no problem,” Holzer said. “I’m very grateful for all my fans, for all my supporters and even for the people who hate me because they’re also watching. It’s more pressure, I had to deal with it first but I’ve had one year to really try to focus on myself.”
Holzer added that while he doesn’t spend time regretting what happened—feeling justified due to comments made by Ilbay’s team—he would rather be recognised for his abilities in the ring.
“It’s nothing I can b—- about because many fans are not professional fighters. So, of course, they don’t remember you for this and that. But, at the end of the day, I want to be also a great fighter and push my career with performances.”
The undefeated 24-year-old is now set for another heated clash, this time against former UFC fighter Khalid Taha.
Taha had previously criticised Holzer when their initial fight was cancelled last September, adding more tension ahead of their rescheduled bout.
“He tried to really hurt my image so yeah, of course it’s personal and I will make him pay for that,” he said.
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