Max Holloway might need fought his final combat at 145 kilos.
The previous featherweight champion had an opportunity to regain that title Saturday within the UFC 308 primary occasion, however he as a substitute suffered the primary knockout lack of his storied profession as he was defeated within the third spherical by Ilia Topuria.
Solely two featherweights have scored wins over Holloway up to now decade, Topuria and Alexander Volkanovski, and Volkanovski was unable to complete Holloway regardless of the 2 battling for 75 minutes throughout three title fights. “Blessed” gave his tackle the shocking end on the night’s post-fight press convention.
“I felt nice,” Holloway stated. “I used to be discovering my groove. Noticed it on the scoreboards after, I used to be type of shocked, I believed I had a minimum of considered one of them. The primary spherical I do know he took me down and on the finish he had that takedown so, it’s what it’s, I felt good. Displaying off my fingers, I used to be touchdown, I used to be being quick, I feel I had him shocked in there. Like I stated, I used to be doing good till I wasn’t.”
“The primary couple of rounds he landed a few left hooks,” Holloway added. “He took me down, he didn’t really feel too sturdy, and , sport of inches. Recreation of inches. He landed one thing that I discovered myself wanting up from the bottom.”
One factor Holloway wouldn’t do is blame the loss on a lower all the way down to featherweight after competing at 155 kilos in his most up-to-date bout. Holloway fought at light-weight in his most up-to-date combat at UFC 300 this previous April, when he gained the “BMF” title in highlight-reel style after capping off a dominant efficiency towards Justin Gaethje with a last-second knockout.
Even with the 145-pound weight lower nonetheless being manageable, Holloway thinks a return to light-weight might make sense going ahead.
“I had the perfect ‘45 lower right here, however what else is there to do?” Holloway stated. “I had a few instances to reclaim [the featherweight title], new guys developing, that will be enjoyable, however I feel ‘55 seems to be extra enjoyable as preventing simply extra the caliber, everybody there and the names there, it will look actually thrilling to place my title within the combine.”
Holloway didn’t say who he’d wish to combat at light-weight (when a 3rd combat with Dustin Poirier was steered, Holloway joked that he’d wish to get one again however hasn’t had a lot luck towards opponents who’ve already crushed him twice), however there are many fan-friendly matchups that make sense for the 32-year-old veteran.
No matter weight Holloway reveals up at subsequent, he doesn’t count on to combat once more till mid-2025.
“We’ll sit down with the group, calm down, there’s nothing wanted to be dashing again proper now,” Holloway stated. “Most likely attempt to come again summer time, massive July card in Vegas, do one thing, see what occurs. [The 155-pound division] seems to be actually good proper now.”
