Max Holloway interested Ilia Topuria rematch, sees 'a lot of fun fights' at 155 pounds
NEW ORLEANS – Max Holloway feels he's a man of options.
Following his unanimous decision win over Dustin Poirier this past Saturday at UFC 318, Holloway (27-8 MMA, 23-8 UFC) is very much enjoying where his "Baddest Motherf*cker" title defense is positioned in his career. Now permanently fighting at lightweight, Holloway wants to run things back with UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, but he doesn't seem to be stressing over it.
"I've been telling you guys all week: This sport is about moments," Holloway said at the UFC 318 post-fight press conference. "This sport is about having moments. I'm glad I went in here, I had this moment, and we'll see what happens if it's Ilia. The ball is in the UFC's court. I'm down for whatever. If it's Ilia, it's Ilia. The guy that he just beat, Oliveira, I have history with. The whole top 10. There are a lot of fun fights for me at lightweight. I'm excited."
Holloway was coming off a knockout loss to Topuria heading into Saturday's UFC 318. The two fought last October in a UFC featherweight title fight. After the fight, Holloway moved up to 155 pounds – while fully closing the door on a featherweight return – and defended his "BMF" title against Poirier. Meanwhile, Topuria vacated the featherweight belt, moved up to 155 pounds, and picked up the vacant UFC lightweight belt last month with a knockout over Charles Oliveira.
Although Holloway lost the first fight against Topuria, it was for Topuria's featherweight title. Holloway's BMF belt was not officially on the line, yet the Spanish-Georgian fighter has been seen sporting one, which doesn't sit right with the BMF champ.
"When the UFC didn't put it up, it is what it is," Holloway said regarding Topuria's unofficial BMF belt. "It just makes no sense what he's doing walking around with it and whatever. Did you see Islam walking around with a champion belt after beating Volk two times? You see what I mean. The belt is mine, get over it, brother. Why you spend money on a damn belt? That's just crazy to me. I know you're rich and all, but that's just a waste of money."
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