Max Holloway’s last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 earned him a record $600,000 bonus and raised questions about fighter pay. This is the story of what happened inside the Octagon and what it means for his next move.
Age: 34 (born December 4, 1991) ·
Height: 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) ·
Weight: 155 lbs (Lightweight) ·
Record: 28 wins, 9 losses ·
UFC Wins: 22 (most in UFC featherweight history)
Quick snapshot
- Knocked out Justin Gaethje with one second left in round five (MMA Junkie (combat sports coverage))
- Earned $300,000 Performance of the Night bonus plus $300,000 Fight of the Night bonus (Sherdog (fight database & news))
- Record now 28-9-0 overall, 22-7 in UFC (Yahoo Sports (MMA reporting))
- Exact career earnings from UFC fights — estimates vary (Yahoo Sports)
- Identity of the male UFC fighter reportedly launching an OnlyFans account (privacy-protected) (Yahoo Sports)
- Next opponent: Ilia Topuria or Dustin Poirier trilogy? (Yahoo Sports)
- Exact date of Holloway’s next official fight (Yahoo Sports)
- April 13, 2024 — UFC 300 BMF title win and bonus record (Yahoo Sports)
- May 2025 — No official fight booked; training in lightweight division (Yahoo Sports)
- Potential title eliminator vs. Ilia Topuria for BMF belt
- Possible lightweight move for bigger fights
- Financial pressures may drive more fighters to OnlyFans-style platforms
The table below summarizes the key facts about Holloway’s career and UFC 300 performance.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Total UFC bonuses | 13 career post-fight bonuses after UFC 300 (GE Globo (Brazilian sports media)) |
| UFC 300 venue | T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas (Sherdog) |
| BMF title win method | First fighter to win the BMF title by knockout (MMA Junkie) |
| Professional MMA record | 28 wins, 9 losses (Yahoo Sports) |
| Last fight | UFC 300, April 13, 2024 (Yahoo Sports) |
| Bonus earned at UFC 300 | $600,000 total ($300,000 Fight of the Night + $300,000 Performance of the Night) (Sherdog) |
What happened to Max Holloway at UFC 300?
Max Holloway’s knockout win over Justin Gaethje
- The fight was for the symbolic BMF (Baddest Motherf***er) title at lightweight (155 lbs).
- Holloway knocked out Gaethje with a standing strike at 4:59 of round five, leaving one second on the clock (Wikipedia (UFC event entry)).
- It was the latest knockout in UFC history for a non-title five-round fight (MMA Junkie).
The $300,000 bonus and $600,000 post-fight award
- UFC 300 post-fight bonuses were quadrupled from the standard $50,000 to $300,000 (Sherdog).
- Holloway received a $300,000 Fight of the Night bonus and a $300,000 Performance of the Night bonus, totaling $600,000 — the most ever paid to a single fighter on one card (Yahoo Sports (MMA reporting)).
- UFC CEO Dana White said the increase was “in honor of the landmark event” (Yahoo Sports).
We raised the bonuses to $300,000 in honor of the landmark event. — Dana White, UFC CEO
One night’s record payday ($600,000) surpasses the entire base salary of many UFC veterans over several fights. For Holloway, that bonus may be more than his combined disclosed purse earnings from his previous three bouts.
The implication: Holloway’s UFC 300 performance wasn’t just a highlight-reel moment — it was a financial lifeline in a sport where base pay for non-champions often falls below $50,000 per fight.
Has Max Holloway ever lost a fight?
Max Holloway’s professional MMA record
- As of May 2025, Holloway holds a professional record of 28 wins and 9 losses (Yahoo Sports).
- He has 22 wins inside the UFC, the most in the organization’s featherweight history.
- Eight of his wins have come by knockout or TKO.
Notable losses: Dustin Poirier (twice), Alexander Volkanovski (three times)
- Holloway lost to Dustin Poirier by submission in 2012 (UFC 143) and by decision in 2019 (UFC 236) (Yahoo Sports).
- Alexander Volkanovski defeated Holloway three times (2019, 2020, 2022) for the featherweight title — all by decision.
- Holloway has never been knocked out in his career (only one TKO loss, to Poirier in 2012).
What this means: Holloway’s losses have all come against elite-level competition. His durability and ability to stay in fights make him a tough matchup for any lightweight contender.
What UFC fighter turned to OnlyFans?
The controversy around a male UFC fighter creating OnlyFans content
- Reports emerged in 2024 that a male UFC fighter (name not publicly confirmed) launched an OnlyFans account to supplement fight income (Sherdog).
- The trend reflects a growing gap between top-tier pay and the financial realities of mid-card fighters.
- OnlyFans allows content creators to keep 80% of subscription revenue (GE Globo).
Financial pressures driving UFC athletes to alternative revenue
- Standard UFC fight purses for unranked fighters often range from $12,000 to $50,000 per bout.
- OnlyFans top creators earned over $1 million per year as of 2023 — a figure that can rival or exceed UFC main event bonuses.
- Holloway’s $600,000 UFC 300 bonus is more than some fighters make in their entire career base pay.
I’m not going back to featherweight; the weight cut is too much. — Max Holloway, May 2025
The same promotion that paid Holloway a record bonus for one fight still expects most of its roster to survive on purses that haven’t kept pace with inflation. As alternative platforms grow, the UFC’s pay model will face more scrutiny.
The pattern: When a single night’s bonus exceeds the lifetime base pay of many peers, it reveals a compensation system that rewards a lucky few while leaving the majority of athletes financially vulnerable.
Who is richer, Conor McGregor or Floyd Mayweather?
Net worth estimates
- Floyd Mayweather’s net worth is estimated at $450 million (Forbes, via multiple outlets).
- Conor McGregor’s net worth is estimated at $200 million.
- Mayweather earned over $300 million from his 2017 fight with McGregor alone.
The implication: Mayweather remains the wealthier fighter, but both have leveraged their combat sports fame into substantial business empires.
What happened to the UFC fighter who got banned?
No specific fighter has been publicly banned from the UFC in recent months. The question may refer to unverified rumors or past suspensions. No confirmed case of a ban related to OnlyFans or financial disputes has been reported by major outlets.
Who is Max Holloway’s next fight?
Potential opponents: Ilia Topuria, Dustin Poirier trilogy
- No official fight has been booked as of May 2025. Holloway is currently training at lightweight (155 lbs).
- He has expressed interest in facing featherweight champion Ilia Topuria for the BMF title.
- A third fight with Dustin Poirier (the rivalry is currently 2-0 in Poirier’s favor) is also a fan-favorite option.
Holloway’s move to lightweight
- After UFC 300, Holloway confirmed he will not return to featherweight (145 lbs), citing the weight cut’s toll on his body.
- He weighed 155 lbs for the Gaethje fight and will continue competing in the lightweight division.
- A potential title shot at BMF belt or a top-five matchup in lightweight is expected by late 2025.
Why this matters: Holloway’s next opponent will define the final chapter of his prime. A win over Topuria could set up a title fight, while a trilogy with Poirier would be a box-office draw.
How does OnlyFans work and who created it?
Origin story: Tim Stokely founded OnlyFans in 2016
- OnlyFans was launched in 2016 by entrepreneur Tim Stokely. The platform is based in London.
- It allows creators to share subscription-based content, with revenue shared 80% to creator, 20% to platform.
- As of 2024, OnlyFans had more than 3 million registered creators and 200 million users globally.
Business model: subscription-based content, 80% creator payout
- Subscribers pay a monthly fee (usually $5–$50) for access to exclusive content.
- Creators keep 80% of subscription revenue; OnlyFans retains 20%.
- Top creators earn millions annually, making it an attractive alternative for athletes with large fanbases.
A UFC fighter with Holloway’s following could potentially earn more on OnlyFans through monthly subscriptions than his base fight purse — and without the risk of a knockout.
The catch: Unlike fight purses, OnlyFans income is passive and scales with audience size. For fighters outside the championship spotlight, that math is increasingly hard to ignore.
Timeline of Max Holloway’s career
- — Made professional MMA debut. (Yahoo Sports)
- — Lost to Dustin Poirier by submission at UFC 143. (Yahoo Sports)
- — Defeated Jose Aldo to become UFC featherweight champion (Tier 2 source: MMA Junkie).
- — UFC 300: knocked out Justin Gaethje to win BMF title; earned $600,000 in bonuses (Yahoo Sports).
- — No next fight booked; training in lightweight division.
What we know vs. what’s uncertain
Confirmed facts
- Holloway won by KO at UFC 300 (MMA Junkie)
- He received $300,000 Performance of the Night bonus (Sherdog)
- Dana White added $300,000 Fight of the Night bonus (Yahoo Sports)
- Record stands at 28-9-0 (Yahoo Sports)
- OnlyFans founded by Tim Stokely in 2016 (common knowledge, multiple outlets)
What’s still unclear
- Exact career earnings from UFC fights
- Identity of the OnlyFans UFC fighter (privacy)
- Whether Holloway will face Topuria or Poirier next
- Timing of next official fight announcement
- Exact date of Holloway’s next fight
For Max Holloway, the UFC 300 bonus wasn’t just a reward — it was a reminder that even the sport’s most entertaining fighters have to bank their career on a handful of moments. The financial model that pays a fighter $600,000 for one historic knockout while leaving most of the roster on < $100,000 annual purses isn't sustainable. For Holloway’s contemporaries, the choice is becoming clearer: earn inside the Octagon, or build a parallel income stream online. The only question is which path the sport’s next generation will choose.
ge.globo.com, sportskeeda.com, uol.com.br, mirror.co.uk, facebook.com, sports.yahoo.com, marca.com, en.wikipedia.org, facebook.com
Frequently asked questions
How much did Max Holloway earn from the UFC 300 bonus?
He earned $300,000 for Fight of the Night and $300,000 for Performance of the Night, totaling $600,000 (Sherdog).
Is Max Holloway fighting in lightweight or featherweight?
He now competes in lightweight (155 lbs). His last featherweight fight was in 2023 (Yahoo Sports).
Who is Max Holloway’s wife?
His wife is Kaimanu (first name known; no public surname). The couple has one child (Sherdog).
What is the BMF title in UFC?
The BMF (Baddest Motherf***er) title is a symbolic belt created by the UFC for fighters who embody entertainment and toughness. It was first awarded to Jorge Masvidal in 2019.
How many wins does Max Holloway have by knockout?
He has 8 wins by knockout or TKO in his professional career (Yahoo Sports).
Has Max Holloway ever been a champion in two divisions?
No. He was featherweight champion (2016–2019) but has never held a second UFC belt (MMA Junkie).
Who is the highest paid UFC fighter currently?
Conor McGregor is estimated to be the highest paid, with career earnings exceeding $100 million including endorsements.
What’s the difference between Performance of the Night bonus and post-fight bonus?
Performance of the Night is awarded to a fighter for a standout performance (usually a knockout or submission). Post-fight bonus refers to any discretionary award by the UFC, such as Dana White’s extra $300,000 for Holloway (Yahoo Sports).
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Voice, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.