BMF champion and former UFC featherweight kingpin, Max Holloway, has openly named the fighter he most desires to face in order to truly gauge his abilities. While “Blessed” is currently gearing up to defend his BMF title against Charles Oliveira in a highly anticipated rematch at UFC 326 this weekend, Holloway also has his sights set on future challenges, including a potential clash with reigning UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria or a blockbuster fight against Conor McGregor.
In a recent interview with UFC on Paramount+, Holloway identified pound-for-pound standout and reigning UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev as the “next big thing,” expressing a strong interest in testing himself against the Russian fighter. Holloway emphasized his willingness to compete against Makhachev at any weight class, stating:
“Whatever weight they wanna go. They asked me, ‘Who you want to test yourself and test your skills against?’ I mean, we missed the shot with Khabib, so Islam is the next big thing, so that’d be fun.”
This aspiration to face Makhachev harks back to a missed opportunity in 2018 when Holloway was scheduled to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov for the vacant UFC lightweight title at UFC 223. However, Holloway was ultimately withdrawn from the bout due to the severe health risks associated with a short-notice weight cut. Having missed his chance to potentially become a double champion and compete against the legendary Khabib, Max Holloway now has his focus firmly set on Makhachev, Khabib’s close friend, protégé, and training partner, as the ultimate test.
Max Holloway’s Upcoming Opponent Challenges Narratives About Khabib and Islam
Adding another layer of intrigue, Max Holloway’s upcoming opponent, Charles Oliveira, has made a bold claim, suggesting his career resume is superior to both Islam Makhachev and the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov. In a separate interview with UFC on Paramount+, the former UFC lightweight champion (36-11) articulated his perspective:
“Each and every one of us and them have their moments… Khabib stepped away from the game undefeated. Islam is making history, a two-division champion. But when you look at the resume, the wins, the records, and what I’ve been through, I believe my resume is the best.”
The 36-year-old Brazilian, known as “Do Bronxs,” still harbors significant career ambitions. His immediate goal is to claim the BMF belt from Max Holloway this weekend. Should he succeed, Oliveira plans to reclaim the 155-pound lightweight strap and has also hinted at a potential move back down to featherweight to capture the 145-pound championship, aiming to join the elite list of three-division champions before concluding his illustrious career.
