By: King Eddie

*UPDATE- Max and Kaimana Pa'aluhi were also blessed with the birth of their son, Rush today. Great day for Kaimana Pa'aluhi and Max Holloway! Congratulations!

Local fighter, Max "Blessed" Holloway, has verbally agreed to step in for the injured Erik Koch and face rising star, Dustin Poirier.

Holloway has been on one heck of a wild ride. From his humble beginnings he has risen to the highest level and will achieve his dreams of fighting in the UFC. But the task that lay ahead of him is no easy one. Dustin Poireir was the unknown underdog who handed the beating of a lifetime to highly hyped Josh Grispi in his UFC debut. But Poirier did lose a Unanimous Decision to fellow UFC featherweight, Danny Castillo.

But no matter the accomplishments of the opponent, or no matter the odds, Max Holloway enjoys being the underdog. In a recent article in MMA Hawaii Magazine, Max expressed his ability to continue to rise above the odds and complete the task in front of him. So there is no doubt in this reporters mind that Holloway will give his opponent the toughest fight of his career. The two are rumored to meet at UFC 143 in Las Vegas, Nevada on Suberbowl Weekend, February 4. UFC 143 features Nick Diaz vs Carlos Condit for the interim Welterweight title.

Stay logged in to MMAhawaii.com for more on this story as it arises, and an interview with Max Holloway about this exciting development.

The UFC 143 Card appears, at the moment, as follows:

• Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz (for interim welterweight title)
• Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce
• Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum
• Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen
• Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway
• Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks
• Alex Caceres vs. Edwin Figueroa
• Jorge Lopez vs. Matt Riddle
• Rafael Natal vs Michael Kuiper
• Justin Edwards vs. Mike Stumpf