Max Holloway moves to lightweight after UFC 308 knockout
- Max Holloway announced his transition to the lightweight division following his first knockout loss at UFC 308 against Ilia Topuria.
- He indicated that he will not return to the featherweight division, having previously competed there and achieved significant success.
- Holloway looks forward to new challenges in lightweight, expressing enthusiasm for the potential matchups and future in this new weight class.
Max Holloway, a former UFC featherweight champion, recently faced Ilia Topuria at UFC 308, where he suffered the first knockout loss of his career. Following this defeat, Holloway publicly announced his decision to move up to the lightweight division permanently. This marks a significant shift in his career as he aims to embark on new challenges while leaving behind a successful tenure at featherweight. During a message on his YouTube channel, Holloway expressed his sentiments about this transition, acknowledging the sacrifices he made while competing at 145 pounds, including forgoing favorite meals like ramen. He emphasized that after multiple championship bids in the featherweight category, he feels it is time to explore opportunities at lightweight. Holloway’s previous experiences in the lightweight division were notable, including an iconic performance at UFC 300, where he secured a dramatic last-second win against Justin Gaethje. This remarkable fight contributed to Holloway’s reputation, and he expressed eagerness to return to this weight class, aiming to compete around International Fight Week. With a strong belief in his skills and preparation, Holloway looks to the future with optimism. He is eager to resume training and prepare for potential matchups that await him in lightweight, expressing confidence that his best performances are yet to come.