Reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight champion, Max Holloway, has won 13 straight fights at 145 pounds, with 10 of those bouts ending by way of knockout or submission.
UFC color commentator, Joe Rogan, believes “Blessed” is the division’s greatest of all time.
But a recent trip up to the 155-pound division, perhaps more suited for his maturing frame, did not yield similar results. Holloway (20-4) came up short to Dustin Poirier in their UFC 236 headliner, one that awarded “The Diamond” the interim lightweight strap.
Maybe the Louisianan just has his number?
“This is a bump in the road and I can’t wait to get back. ’55 is still there. ’55 there’s a lot of challenges,” Holloway told MMA Junkie. “When I lost to Dustin the first time at ’45, the ladder was so long to the belt. But the ’55 ladder, it’s right there. I’m in the mix. If I go up there I feel I’ll be right in the mix with all the top contenders. No disrespect to them, but I think it’s a fun weight class to be. We’ll see what happens.”
Poirier also defeated Holloway at UFC 143 back in 2012.
Before “Blessed” makes any more trips up north, he’ll need to rid the division of former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. Assuming that happens in the UFC 240 main event this July in Edmonton, he’ll then need to deal with top-ranked featherweight contender, Alex Volkanovski.
Once that’s said and done, the division could be considered “cleaned out,” paving the way for the 27 year-old phenom to once again try his luck in the 155-pound weight class. As a fan, I would be down for Holloway vs. Nate Diaz.
Anyone?