Max Holloway reveals ambitious plans – first Topuria, second Makhachev

Max Holloway has extremely ambitious plans, first he wants to defeat Ilya Topuria and then fight a duel with Islam Makhachev.

Max Holloway will fight a championship bout against Ilia Topuria at UFC 308. The Hawaiian will face the chance to win the UFC featherweight belt again. However, the BMF belt holder is already thinking about the future. Holloway mentioned that he once had a fight contracted with Khabib Nurmagomedov, but now dreams of a clash with Islam Makhachev.

– You have to do big things. I had a fight booked with Khabib a while ago, and Islam is so Khabib 2.0. I want it all, I want all the hype. Fighting him would be a great honor, and I want to write my name in the history of the sport. But, as you said yourself, everything one step at a time. First, Ilia Topuria.

Max Holloway pointed out that in the past Islam Makhachev did not pay attention to him and repeated that he was not interested in such a duel. The Hawaiian pointed out that everything changed after he spectacularly knocked out Justin Gaethje.

– However, if I had a choice, why not? Why not take the fight with Islam? Islam never said he wanted to fight me when I talked about changing the division to lightweight after the fight with Gaethjem, and he was the one who was supposed to fight him next. He repeated like a mantra: “I don’t know why I should fight him.” Recently, however, the narrative has changed. This is what I needed, this crack in the wall, brother.

Max Holloway has been fighting in the UFC organization for twelve years. He fought his debut bout at UFC 143 when he lost to Dustin Poirier by submission. Holloway’s best results were recorded between January 2014 and December 2018. During this time Max won thirteen fights in a row and reached for the championship belt of the up to 66 kilograms division.

Later, Holloway alternated defeats with victories. He succumbed again to Dustin Poirier, and also lost three times to Alexander Volkanovski. Currently, “Blessed” has a series of three wins in a row. Holloway defeated Arnold Allen, Chan Sung Jung and Justin Gaethje consecutively. The latter victory secured Holloway the BMF belt.