Max Holloway is officially taking his talents to UFC’s stacked lightweight division.
The former UFC featherweight champion announced his move to 155 pounds on Saturday following a knockout loss to UFC’s 145-pound champion, Ilia Topuria, at UFC 308 last weekend. It was the first time “Blessed” has ever been finished by way of strikes and it marked his fourth-straight loss in UFC title fights (unless you’re counting his “BMF” scrap with Justin Gaethje back at UFC 300).
Now that Topuria has solidified himself as the best featherweight in the world and just stopped Holloway with an epic knockout, it would be very hard for “Blessed” to work his way back towards a 145-pound title shot in 2025. Add in a crappy weight cut down to featherweight and Holloway’s decision to move up to lightweight seems like an easy one.
“This is like my phoenix moment, from the ashes we’re reborn,” said Holloway via his YouTube channel (transcription via MMA Junkie). “We’re on to bigger, better stuff and walking through a new door and starting a new chapter. I’m a big believer in never say never, and the big question now is, ‘Was that your last fight at 145?’ You guys saw me touch upon it in the press conference, and I can honestly say I think I’m done with 145. Your boy is only getting older. I turn 33. This cut – no excuses. This cut was easy, bro. Shout out to my wife. They helped make this cut really easy, but it takes a tole cutting weight, period. No matter what weight you are.
“I had to give up ramen for my ’45 camps. So I’m done with that. I don’t ever want to give up ramen again. 155, here we come and 155 is where I want to stay. This is a new chapter. This is where we start. This is where we begin. I cannot wait. Like I said, never say never. But I can honestly look you guys in the eye and tell you guys I’m probably not ever going back to ’45. I love what I did. I did what I did. I did what I had to do there. I worked my way back, I clawed my back to the championship fight multiple times there. I was a champion. I defended at that weight. Now it’s time to move on to the next chapter, and 155 there’s a bunch of fun fights that I cannot wait to take.”
Holloway, who has dabbled at 155 pounds in the past, is excited to make a permanent move up and finally pack on the necessary weight and muscle he needs. “Blessed” wasn’t able to go all-in in the past because he was always going to move back down to featherweight, but with 145 pounds no longer in the equation “Blessed” could be even better at his new home.
“When I do make the return it’s going to be at 155 and we’re there to stay,” said Holloway. “Even the version of myself you saw at 155 against Gaethje is not the full version. We had the idea of going back to ’45 because I wanted that world title. I can’t wait for the future. If you thought that version of myself against Gaethje at 300 was good – I can’t wait to get in the lab with my coaches and put some size on.”
As for a potential timeline for his long-awaited move to lightweight, Holloway is aiming to return sometime next July for UFC’s International Fight Week in Las Vegas. The former UFC featherweight king is hoping to land an opponent ranked higher than him in order to fight towards a 155-pound title.
“If I got to choose a timeline, International Fight Week,” he said. “I would love to be back on the Ninth Island in Las Vegas. Huge card is International Fight Week. I don’t know who is going to be available at that time. 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.”