Mixed martial arts culture has always thrived in Hawaii thanks to the likes of two-division champion B.J. Penn.
With Penn nearing the end of his career, 'The Aloha State' would clamor for another one of their own to get behind.
While many Hawaiian fighters have graced the Octagon, none have touched the level of Waianae's Max Holloway.
After debuting for the UFC in a short-notice fight at 19 years old, Holloway worked his way up the division, first earning UFC gold at the age of 25.
We look at five memorable performances from 'Blessed' in the Octagon.
Max Holloway vs. Conor McGregor at UFC Fight Night Boston
Conor McGregor's sophomore UFC appearance was to be against Andy Ogle in UFC's first FOX Sports 1 broadcasted card, however Ogle withdrew due to injury. Holloway would enter the picture to fill in for Ogle with just under six weeks notice to prepare for 'The Notorious' one.
Holloway would enter the TD Garden in Boston to a hostile, pro-Irish crowd.
McGregor would control majority of the striking battle, eventually taking the fight to the mat after apparently tearing his ACL in the second round. In the end, the judges announce McGregor winning the fight by unanimous decision.
This would be notable as it would be McGregor's first time being taken to the judges scorecards, and would be Holloway's final loss before his long winning streak en route to the title. McGregor would eventually claim the featherweight and lightweight titles with definitive finishes, thus proving the toughness of the Holloway lasting the entire 15 minutes.
Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira at UFC Fight Night Saskatoon
After his loss to McGregor, Holloway would go on a six-fight winning streak before being matched up at UFC Fight Night Saskatoon against Charles 'do Bronx' Oliveira.
The pair of top featherweights would headline the event; the first event held in the province of Saskatchewan in Canada. This fight would be the first headlining bout in the UFC for Holloway.
The ending would be anti-climatic with Oliveira aggravating a neck injury from training camp on a failed take down attempt and Holloway would be awarded TKO victory.
Max Holloway vs. Ricardo Lamas at UFC 199
Inching closer toward the featherweight championship, then fourth-ranked Max Holloway would take on number-six ranked and former title contender Ricardo Lamas at UFC 199.
From the get-go, Holloway would dominate the striking exchanges. After catching and avoiding some of Lamas' kicks, 'The Bully' would become 'the hunted.'
With Lamas desperate to land a take down, Holloway would calmly defend and make Lamas pay with strikes.
Nearing the final ten seconds of the fight, Holloway would challenge Lamas to go toe-to-toe, in the pocket until the bell. Both fighters would trade with Holloway slipping and landing the heavier shots.
'Blessed' would win the unanimous decision and get one step closer to the title.
Max Holloway vs. Anthony Pettis at UFC 206
It's rare when a fighter goes on a long winning streak and not earn a title shot. For Holloway it was about politics, but he finally go this chance at an interim belt at UFC 206, after a nine-fight winning streak. However, it was by chance how he got there.
Holloway was scheduled to face former UFC lightweight champion Anthony 'Showtime' Pettis in the co-main event of UFC 206, in a featherweight non-title affair. The main event slot was booked for a fight between UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier and Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson, but Cormier would have to withdraw due to injury.
With UFC 206 being the first event in Toronto after a three-year hiatus, officials would seem to feel the pressure of another Canadian event not living up to magnitude, and would make necessary changes to benefit the card.
Conor McGregor would be stripped of his UFC featherweight title a couple weeks after becoming two-division champion by defeating Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight strap at UFC 205. Jose Aldo, who won his version of the interim title over Frankie Edgar at UFC 200 would be promoted to undisputed champion.
Now with McGregor out of the title picture, and seemingly the only factor preventing Holloway from earning a featherweight title shot, due to his previous loss to McGregor, the bout between 'Blessed' and 'Showtime' would now be billed as an interim featherweight championship bout.
Adding to the drama, Pettis would miss weight for the fight and would be deemed ineligible to win the interim belt.
Luckily, the belt would not become vacant as Holloway would stop Pettis in the third round, becoming the first man to finish 'Showtime' and earn the interim featherweight title in the process.
Max Holloway vs. Jose Aldo at UFC 212
After Holloway's win to earn the interim title, there was a need to unify the titles to once again bring structure back to the featherweight division. Holloway would have to head to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and take on Jose Aldo in enemy territory at UFC 212.
Up to that point, other than a 13-second emotional-driven blunder against McGregor and minus a couple fifth-round survivals, Aldo was the dominant featherweight force in the Octagon.
Holloway would have trouble finding the distance on his Brazilian counterpart and would be down on the scorecards after the first two rounds.
Nearing the end of the second round, Holloway would find his confidence and begin taunting Aldo. 'Blessed' seemed to find his rhythm and would start to land shots that affected the two-time undisputed champion.
Holloway would knock down Aldo in the third round, and it would be the beginning of the end for the Brazilian. Holloway would gain mount and finish Aldo on the ground to become the undisputed featherweight champ.