Max Holloway Confirms Permanent Move Up to Lightweight

It’s unlikely that Max Holloway will compete at featherweight again.

After going 0-3 against Alexander Volkanovski in their title fight trilogy, Holloway wasn’t in featherweight title conversations until recently. However, the title picture changed with Ilia Topuria’s knockout win over Volkanovski at UFC 298 this past February.

Meanwhile, Holloway went on score an iconic knockout win over Justin Gaethje for the BMF title in a lightweight matchup at UFC 300 in April, securing himself a featherweight gold bid. The former champ challenged “El Matador” at UFC 308 on Oct. 26 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. While Holloway was seemingly getting ahead on the scorecards, Topuria handed “Blessed” his first career KO loss in the third round.

Holloway expressed interest in moving up to 155 pounds immediately afterward. The Hawaiian has now confirmed that he is moving up to lightweight for good. While Holloway had a nice weight cut for his clash against Topuria, he notes that cutting less weight is always easier as one grows older.

“I think I’m done with 145 [lbs.]… We’re only getting older. I’ve done 33… No excuses, this cut was easy bro. Shoutout to my wife to help me make this cut really easy but it takes a toll cutting weight, period,” Holloway recently said on his YouTube channel. “Whatever weight you are… I had to give up ramen for my ’45 camp, so I’m done with that. I don’t ever wanna 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… Never say never but I can honestly look you guys in the eyes and tell you guys, ‘I’m probably not going back to 145.’”

🚨Max Holloway confirmed he won’t fight in the featherweight division again:

“I can honestly say that I’m done with the 145-pound division. 155, here we come—and 155 is where I want to stay. This is a new chapter; this is where we begin.”

🎥 YT @BlessedMMA ▫️ pic.twitter.com/KxMfKpTk5o

— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) November 2, 2024