Max Holloway emerged as one of the biggest winners of the landmark UFC 300 event, clinching the ‘BMF’ title and pocketing $600,000 in performance bonuses with his sensational last-second fifth-round knockout of Justin Gaethje.
The victory not only solidified his status among the top contenders in both the featherweight and lightweight divisions but also sparked discussions about his next opponent.
Interview with Rob DeMello:
In an interview with Rob DeMello of KHON, the No.2-ranked featherweight was asked about his most desired fight. Holloway didn’t hesitate to express his interest in a rematch with Conor McGregor, stating,
“It’d be hard not to say – with it finally getting announced that he’s actually fighting – to be Conor 2, to run it back. That’s the hugest fight I think, but legacy, ideal-wise, trying to get back to an undisputed title, gotta go with [Ilia] Topuria.”
Max Holloway says if he could fight anyone next, he’d pick Conor McGregor. He also says that Ilia Topuria is most likely his next opponent 👀
“It’d be hard not to say, with it finally getting announced that he’s actually fighting, Conor [McGregor] 2 to run it back. That’s the… pic.twitter.com/Csb1MrtkZn
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) April 16, 2024
He continued, hinting at a potential showdown with Topuria, saying,
“He beat the man that I couldn’t help to figure it out. We’ll have to see. Me and him had a little – we’re having a little bible verse beef on top of Twitter right now so life is good. It’s looking like it’s going to be him next, but first things first – you know, Justin Gaethje kicks like a horse, man.”
Max Holloway rematch with Conor McGregor
Holloway and McGregor previously clashed at UFC Fight Night 26 in 2013, with ‘The Notorious’ emerging victorious via unanimous decision. With McGregor’s highly anticipated return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June, a potential bout for Holloway’s ‘BMF’ title could generate significant interest.
Meanwhile, Topuria’s knockout victory at UFC 300 has also put him on Holloway’s radar. If Alexander Volkanovski opts for some time off before vying to reclaim the featherweight title, Holloway could be in line to challenge the division’s champion.
Reflecting on Holloway’s knockout victory over Gaethje, UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping suggested that Gaethje’s overconfidence may have contributed to his downfall.
Bisping noted that Gaethje’s constant pursuit of a knockout left him vulnerable to telegraphed shots from Holloway, emphasizing the importance of staying composed in high-stakes matchups.
