Max Holloway will soon face Ilia Topuria for the featherweight crown and while others might be betting on who will win this fight and calling dibs on the former champ, ‘Blessed’ has also put a bid on his favorite NBA team. It’s not a mystery that the current BMF title holder is a die-hard Toronto Raptors fan.

Holloway has placed a bet on his favorite team’s upcoming game. This marks a new level of commitment for the UFC veteran, who has previously made predictions without financial stakes. We’ll soon see if his faith in the Raptors pays off.

Holloway puts a bid on his favorite team ahead of new season

As per Stake.com ‘Blessed’ has put $5000 on his beloved team ahead of the new NBA season. The post on X read, “Courtside blessings from @BlessedMMA ahead of the new #NBA season.” As a native of Hawaii, which doesn’t have an NBA team, Max Holloway has always been a dedicated fan of the Toronto Raptors. His admiration for the team has seemed to inspire him throughout his illustrious career.

Holloway’s connection to the Toronto Raptors began when he was due to fight at a UFC event in Canada and witnessed the team play against the Cavaliers. Since then, he has been a loyal fan, even drawing inspiration from Kawhi Leonard during a UFC 240 bout against Frankie Edgar.

While speaking to BJPENN, he said, “[Kawhi Leonard] said one of the most awesome things I’ve ever heard. “People asked him ‘Do you think you’re the best player in the NBA right now,’ he said ‘I don’t care, I want to be the best team.’ That’s what I believe. Everybody sees me fighting, I’m one guy, and I win the belt, but they don’t see the team that’s behind me.”

Holloway’s connection with Kawhi Leonard was rooted in their shared experiences as individuals surrounded by a strong support system, including family and team members. Holloway’s own team received widespread recognition and ‘flowers’ for their contributions to his dominant performance at UFC 300.

Holloway was also present in the 2019 Raptors vs. Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinal. He saw the Raptors go to claim their first NBA title that year. He was also seen holding the NBA championship trophy while referring to Leonard, who was playing for the Raptors. Interestingly, the UFC stalwart is not the only one who supports the team, even the NBA world tuned in during his UFC 300 clash against Justin Gaethje.

When Max Holloway got shoutouts from the NBA world

UFC 300 was a landmark event in the promotion’s history and Max Holloway came prepared for a fight of his life. And he did just that! ‘Blessed’ went on to engage in a slugfest in the dying seconds of the final round, while pointing to the center of the canvas and eventually caught ‘The Human Highlight’ for a spectacular knockout. This was one of the most iconic knockouts in the history of UFC and resulted in the 32-year-old securing his BMF title.

This historic moment was also witnessed by the NBA world. Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns took to his official X account to express his amazement at the combat phenomenon. The former UFC featherweight champion’s viral move warranted a reaction from the NBA star who wrote, “OMG (emoji) #UFC300” 

Mark Jackson, former Golden State Warriors coach, expressed his excitement at Holloway’s exceptional performance. During the UFC 300 media day, Holloway was photographed holding the prestigious Larry O’Brien Championship trophy. When asked who he thought of when holding the ultimate NBA achievement, the latter immediately said, “I think of Leonard, Kawhi hitting that on the corner, on the Sixers. That was a crazy game. That was insane. This is nuts”.

So it is safe to say that he put his bed in the right place. Do you think that the Toronto Raptors would win this time? On top of that would Max Holloway also secure the 145lbs title yet again? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.