Max Holloway is never out of the fight—literally and metaphorically. The Hawaiian warrior added another legendary moment to his resume by knocking out Justin Gaethje with one second remaining in the UFC 300 fight. That conclusion, now immortalized in highlight clips, propelled Holloway to the BMF championship. However, his transition to lightweight was not without its hurdles, as he was defeated by Ilia Topuria at UFC 308 in his attempt to recapture the featherweight crown. Now that Holloway has confirmed that he will stay at 155 pounds, the biggest issue is what comes next for ‘Blessed.’

Fortunately, Holloway has plenty of options. ‘Blessed’ has the opportunity to make another significant statement in 2025, whether it’s rematching ‘The Highlight’ Gaethje, defending his BMF lightweight title against Ilia ‘El Matador’ Topuria, or competing in Dustin Poirier‘s rumored retirement fight. So, what do the possible fights have to offer? Well, without further ado, let’s find out!

Rematch with Justin Gaethje

There is unresolved business between Holloway and Gaethje. The first bout was one of the most insane brawls in UFC history, but it finished with Holloway dropping Gaethje in brutal fashion. That loss set Gaethje on a lengthy road to recovery, and now that he’s back, he wants to show that the outcome would be different if they fought again. ‘The Highlight’ acknowledged that he deviated from his customary aggressive style versus Holloway, and he hopes to return to the all-out brawler that made him a fan favorite. “I think I bought into that style a bit too much,” Gaethje stated, reflecting on his approach to Holloway. “Especially against a guy like Max Holloway, who is so fast and can cover range so well. It really bit me in the a— that night.”

A rematch would offer ‘Blessed’ the opportunity to prove that his first win was more than a fluke but an indication that he genuinely dominated this rivalry. If Justin Gaethje fights the way he used to—reckless, powerful, and relentless—it could result in an even more intense bout than their first. A five-round war over the BMF belt? That’s exactly the type of fight fans want to see.

Fight Ilia Topuria for BMF

At UFC 308, Ilia Topuria became the first fighter to knock out Max Holloway, doing so with a vicious left hook. That setback not only cost ‘Blessed’ a chance to win the featherweight title, but it also eliminated him from the select group of fighters who had never been knocked out in their careers. However, with ‘El Matador’ going up to lightweight and Holloway making 155 his new home, a rematch could be on the cards—but this time for the BMF championship.

Max Holloway did not hide his disappointment after losing. “It sucks, man. I love this game. It is what it is,” Holloway said after the fight. “That’s the game we play. You win some, you lose some. I’ll be back.” This would be a new challenge for both men. Holloway would have the opportunity to avenge his loss, while the Spanish-Georgian would move into a new division with the chance to win another title. If Holloway wants to show the world that he is still one of the greatest fighters in the business, defeating the man who knocked him out would be the ideal way to do so.

Dustin Poirier retirement fight

If there is one fight that might be deemed ‘legends only,’ this is it. Dustin Poirier has suggested several times that he is reaching the end of his career, and UFC CEO Dana White has stated that the company is planning something special for ‘The Diamond’s’ final fight. Poirier and Holloway have previously fought twice, with Poirier winning both times—once by submission in 2012 and again by decision in 2019, when ‘Blessed’ moved up to lightweight for the interim title. A third bout would not only allow Holloway to ultimately defeat Poirier, but it would also be a suitable way to bid goodbye to one of the UFC’s greatest fighters.

In fact, it seems like even the UFC is planning to turn this hypothesis into a reality. “The problem is right now, my understanding is that Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway are going to fight,” UFC lightweight Beneil Dariush said in an interview.  “At least that’s what I’m hearing. I don’t know if it’s 100 percent sealed and done, but that’s what I’m hearing.”  This would be an opportunity for Poirier to end his career against an opponent he respects, while Holloway would have another high-profile battle to solidify his legacy as a lightweight. The history between them makes this fight personal, and if ‘The Diamond’ truly wants to go out with a bang, there is no better opponent than ‘Blessed.’ What do you think? Who will be Max Holloway’s next opponent? Let us know in the comments.