UFC’s BMF champion Max Holloway is gearing up for his 30th fight under the UFC banner, headlining UFC 308 this weekend, where he will face the promotion’s featherweight king, Ilia Topuria, in the heated arena of Abu Dhabi. Though the card is packed with several thrilling matchups, the one fans are most eager to see is the main event. The big question on everyone’s mind is about ‘Blessed’s’ future, regardless of the fight’s outcome.
Will he remain in the featherweight division, or transition to lightweight, a division where he’s already built a strong reputation? UFC president Dana White recently weighed in on this during the UFC pre-fight press conference.
What did Dana White have to say about Max Holloway’s future?
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Max Holloway is one of the rare fighters in the UFC known for seamlessly moving between weight classes, something he has been doing since 2019. Throughout his decade-long featherweight journey, ‘Blessed’ has been one of the most active fighters, defeating opponents across the division. He maintained a remarkable nine-fight winning streak and defended his title four times, cementing his legacy in the 145lbs division.
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However, Max Holloway’s recent foray into the lightweight division, particularly his bout against Justin Gaethje for the BMF belt, raised new questions about his future. Fans and analysts alike began speculating whether ‘Blessed’s’ time in the featherweight division was nearing its end with his ability to compete at both 145 and 155 pounds having made his career trajectory all the more intriguing.
At the UFC pre-fight press conference, a reporter directly posed the question to Dana White, asking whether Holloway would move up to lightweight or stay in featherweight if he won his upcoming fight. White appeared uncertain, stating, “Well, he just said that’s up to me, but we would have to look at the options between 145 and 155. I mean, he’s ranked in both divisions.”
White further emphasized that the UFC isn’t lacking in contenders for Max Holloway, concluding, “We’re not short of options, that’s for sure.” While White seems confident in the depth of the featherweight division, questions surrounding Max Holloway’s natural size have also been raised. Demetrious Johnson recently pointed out that although it hasn’t been a problem so far, it could become a more significant factor as ‘Blessed’ gets older.
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What’s your perspective on:
Is Max Holloway's featherweight reign nearing its end as he eyes the lightweight division?
Have an interesting take?
How much does ‘Blessed’ weigh when he is out of the fight camp?
Max Holloway may seem like a skinny guy in the featherweight division, but he is no less than former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic in size when out of camp, as evidenced by a viral picture that circulated on social media. Despite this, he has chosen to fight in the featherweight division without any issues, whereas other fighters, like Alex Pereira, prefer to compete closer to their natural weight.
This topic became a point of discussion earlier this week when Demetrious Johnson and ‘Blessed’ sat together for banter on the ‘MightyCast.’ channel. Johnson pressed Max Holloway, asking, “How big do you get outside of camp? Like, I’m sure—how big do you get outside of camp, and how big are you when you’re just training? Like, you’re six weeks out from the fight?”
At first, Holloway kept him guessing, but when Johnson continued to probe, he revealed, “They know I can be 185 to 200 lbs. Last time I checked, I was as big as Stipe Miocic, so yeah, exactly, keep wondering.”
Now, at 32 years old, with Max Holloway entering the final stage of his career, it will be intriguing to see whether he continues fighting in the featherweight division or moves up to the higher weight class. What’s your take on this? Do you see Blessed’ competing in the lightweight division in the future? Drop your opinion below.
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Is Max Holloway's featherweight reign nearing its end as he eyes the lightweight division?