Even if Max Holloway regains UFC featherweight gold on Saturday, it may not be achieved at lightweight.
Holloway will be challenging reigning champion Ilya Topria for the 145-pound title when he headlines UFC 308 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The fight comes on the heels of a successful move to 155 pounds, where he knocked out Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in April of this year to win the BMF belt. Gaethje was considered a top lightweight title contender before the loss, so Holloway is likely considering a possible matchup with the division’s current kingpin, Islam Makhachev. In 2018, “Blessed” was scheduled to face Khabib Nurmagomedov in a lightweight title fight at UFC 223 until the New York State Athletic Commission deemed his weight cut unsafe.
“I have to do something great,” Holloway recently told Demetrius Johnson on his YouTube channel. “We booked a fight with Khabib a while ago. They call Islam Khabib 2.0. So I want all the flavor and all the smoke. Fight that guy. It would be an honor to write my name in history.First of all, Illya.If I have a choice, why don’t I choose?Why can’t I fight against Islam?
UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway takes place Saturday at 2pm ET on ESPN+. Order now!
“Islam never wanted to fight me, even when I said I was going to fight.” [155]. After fighting the guy he was supposed to fight next, he still said, “I don’t know why I’m fighting him.” But recently his tone changed and he was like, oh yeah, if I can get through Topuria, he’ll be ready to fight me. I was like, “OK, that’s all I need.” All that was needed was a small crack in the door. Don’t worry, I’ll do my best for the rest. ”
Makhachev successfully defended his lightweight title for the third time with a fifth round submission of Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 on June 1st. The 32-year-old Dagestani is expected to next face Arman Tsarukyan, but a date for the fight has not yet been set. It will be announced.
