- Max Holloway is eager to return to lightweight for a massive fight
- “Blessed” insists Ilia Topuria doesn’t hit that hard
Max Holloway sees himself returning at lightweight and possibly competing for the belt. He also dismissed the notion that Ilia Topuria has an incredible punching power.
Max is moving up
Speaking on his YouTube channel, “Blessed” remained optimistic about his future. Despite his devastating knockout loss to Topuria, Holloway already got his sights set on a return to lightweight.
For Holloway, all signs point to a move to 155 and he would gladly accept whatever the UFC plans for him in that weight class.
“I gotta sit down with the coaches, I gotta talk with the team. My health always comes first but personally, If I got to choose a timeline, International Fight Week. I would love to be back on the Ninth Island in Las Vegas. Huge card is International Fight Week all the time… I don’t know who is going to be available at that time but ideally, International Fight Week, Las Vegas, big fight card, making my return at 155. And with me being ranked at 55 is great. Hopefully, I can fight somebody in front of me, get a big win and who knows? Might be knocking on the door of a title fight at 155,” Holloway said.
“The BMF title is a 155 title. So, if it’s a BMF title with someone, so be it. If it’s a No. 1 contender for 155, so be it. Whatever the UFC wants to do on me,” he continued.
Max Holloway wants to return in summer 2025 at international fight week 👀
“Making my return back to 155… hopefully I can fight someone [ranked] in front of me.
We get a big win, we might be knocking on another title fight at 155.”
🎥 @BlessedMMApic.twitter.com/SyMdgaSUSg
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) November 2, 2024
Ilia is just another puncher
Topuria was the first fighter to knock Holloway out. That said, many are convinced that “El Matador” possesses insane power in his hands. However, Holloway begged to differ.
“Everyone talks about how hard Topuria hits, but his punches don’t feel any different to anyone else’s I’ve fought. it was no big difference. He just landed something that landed. Even the one that landed didn’t feel too crazy,” Holloway said.
“At the end of the day, it’s I felt comfortable… You’re comfortable, you sit there, you try to do something and it doesn’t pay off. Great risks, come great reward and sometimes a great risk comes with great failure,” he explained.
Max Holloway says that Ilia Topuria’s punches didn’t feel any different from other fighters he’s fought:
“Everybody talks about how hard a puncher [Topuria] is, his punches didn’t feel different from anybody else I ever fought.”
🎥 YT / @BlessedMMApic.twitter.com/WaQRXNADm3
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) November 2, 2024
Holloway fought at lightweight during his historic showdown with Justin Gaethje at UFC 300. As it stands, “Blessed” is ranked No. 5 as a lightweight is open to facing No. 4 contender Dustin Poirier in a trilogy match.
