via Imago
Via Imago
via Imago
Via Imago
Former UFC featherweight champion and current BMF title holder Max Holloway’s dream of reclaiming the 145lbs title took a serious hit last week when he was decisively defeated by the division king, Ilia Topuria, in his first title defense. Topuria overwhelmed Holloway in a way no one ever had in his decades-long career, ending his three-fight winning streak in a grueling three-round striking battle.
This has sparked rumors about Holloway’s potential move to the lightweight division. Although Holloway had remained silent until now, he finally spoke up on his YouTube channel, stating, “I can honestly say that I’m done with the 145-pound division. 155, here we come—and 155 is where I want to stay. This is a new chapter; this is where we begin.”
🚨Max Holloway confirmed he won’t fight in the featherweight division again:
“I can honestly say that I’m done with the 145-pound division. 155, here we come—and 155 is where I want to stay. This is a new chapter; this is where we begin.”
🎥 YT @BlessedMMA ▫️ pic.twitter.com/KxMfKpTk5o
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) November 2, 2024
Holloway, in his earlier statements, had not given much credence to the rumors about moving to the lightweight division. However, now, with this disappointing defeat, it seems he is opening up options for himself.
Even UFC head honcho Dana White expressed similar views before UFC Abu Dhabi concluded last month, stating that the UFC is not lacking good opponents in the featherweight division and claimed, “We’re not short of options, that’s for sure.” But now, Holloway appears to be leaning toward a move to 155lbs which he had previously dismissed but had consistently been suggested by Ilia Topuria before their showdown.
Topuria’s prediction on Holloway’s viability at 145lbs rings true
Way before the official announcement of the Max Holloway vs. Ilia Topuria featherweight showdown, the Spanish-Georgian had been very vocal about his intentions, starting from when he crowned himself the featherweight champion back in February after putting Alexander Volkanovski to sleep. Meanwhile, ‘Blessed’ was coming off the historic UFC 300, where he faced Justin Gaethje at 155lbs in a dogfight for the BMF title. Holloway showcased one of the best knockouts in MMA history when he knocked out ‘The Highlight’ just before the end of the fifth round.
Since then, various rumors have circulated about Holloway staying in the lightweight division, with Ilia Topuria being the most vocal about it, suggesting that Holloway was hesitant to face him. In Topuria’s last outing with Ariel Helwani, he explained, “I choose who I want to fight next, and I said I want to fight Max Holloway. And they told me he’s asking to stay in the 155-pound division to fight Michael Chandler. I don’t know. He asked about many, many guys, and when they told him, ‘No, Max, you have to fight Ilia because he wants to fight you,’ so finally, he had to accept it, but in the beginning, he was trying really hard to avoid me.”
What are your thoughts on Max Holloway’s ultimate move? Should he view his recent decision as just one setback after a successful career in the featherweight division, and does this latest title fight loss define his legacy, or was it the right choice to make? Drop your opinion below.
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Debate
Is Max Holloway's move to lightweight a strategic career revival or a desperate last resort?