The featherweight division is losing one of its most beloved warriors, and surprisingly, it’s not due to a retirement. Max Holloway, the man who made Hawaii proud and turned volume striking into an art form, has finally decided to bid farewell to those grueling 145-pound weight cuts. After his recent setback against Ilia Topuria at UFC 308, ‘Blessed’ is ready to make lightweight his new home.
Remember when Holloway would joke about being the best boxer in the UFC? Well, now he’s planning to test that claim against bigger opponents. The former featherweight king has his sights set on International Fight Week 2025, and honestly, the timing couldn’t be better.
“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.”
This means that there will be no more desperate attempts to cut weight. Max Holloway is embracing the 155-pound life with enthusiasm. However, the 145-pound featherweight division still holds the legacy he has made in his career.
Max Holloway seems more excited about the future. He’s particularly fired up about the physical transformation ahead, hinting that his performance against Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 was just a preview of what’s to come. At 33, Holloway isn’t just changing weight classes – he’s rewriting his entire career narrative.
Arnold Allen Gives His Take On Ilia Topuria Knocking Out Max Holloway
Holloway has been a cornerstone of the division for years. He is known for his iron chin and remarkable striking ability. But as the saying goes, “Father Time is undefeated,” and sometimes the signs are there before the fighters want to acknowledge them.
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At UFC 308, the MMA community witnessed a changing of the guard when Ilia Topuria shocked fans by knocking out Holloway. But Arnold Allen, who went five rounds with Holloway himself in April 2023, recently shared some fascinating insights at the UFC Edmonton event.
“To be honest, syle-wise, I feel like [Topuria] would get the win and I wasn’t too surprised he was able to knock [Holloway] out, you know… When [Holloway] was coming out fo the exchanges, he was coming out with his head in the air and I didn’t like it. And also, you know, he’s got the most significant strikes received, that’s going to add up.”
The most glaring issue that Allen saw was Max Holloway’s head position during exchanges. He further acknowledged that the accumulation of significant strikes throughout Holloway’s career was bound to catch up eventually. And at UFC 308, it finally did.
