At UFC 308 in October, former featherweight champion Max Holloway gets another shot to win his old championship. For the first time in his last three title fights, it’ll be against someone other than Alexander Volkanovski, as Holloway will face the new champion Ilia Topuria, looking for his first title defense.
Holloway is coming off a spectacular knockout finish of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 that will live in highlight eternity but there’s more than just that viral moment. Throughout the fight Holloway looked incredibly sharp in what was his second appearance at lightweight, this one seemingly much better than his previous back in 2019. Holloway’s body looked better, his incredible boxing skills were yet again on display, and he proved he’s still at the top of his game.
Following his memorable win over Gaethje, Holloway made an appearance on the ‘Joe Rogan Experience’ and made one standout comment over everything else that was discussed on the episode. Despite the losses to Volkanovski, Holloway reminded everyone that entering the UFC at just 20-years old, he’s not only spent the past 12 years with the promotion, but he’s grown up both professionally and personally during his tenure with the UFC.
That maturity of his life can not be understated, as it would be hard for most fighters to continue to chase title opportunities after coming up short multiple times against one champion. The fact that Topuria defeated Volkanovski not just opened the door for a new title reign, but it opened up another path for Holloway to compete for his title once again.
While there could be critics who say Holloway has had enough of his shares and opportunities to regain his title, he’s also undoubtedly earned this latest title fight. One big key for Holloway is after his losses to Volkanovski, he’s knocked off the top competition around him, whether in the featherweight division, or moving up to lightweight to defeat a superstar, Holloway continues to make himself undeniable.
A win over Topuria in October wouldn’t just be Holloway’s redemption for his old title, but it could very well signal the next chapter of his career. First things first, take care of business against Topuria, but it would be intriguing to see what Volkanovski does if Holloway becomes champion. If Volkanovski decided to chase a new title and move up to lightweight, there’d be plenty of new names and challenges for Holloway in potential title fights.
As he continues to show change and growth in his career after losses, Holloway is yet again riding high heading into a title fight. If he conquers the belt this time, he’d have plenty of momentum to carry him if he had to face Volkanovski once again, or the new potential challengers atop the 145 division.
Sometimes it’s not about being as good as your last fight, but the growth you show in and outside of the fight game. Holloway has grown to a perennial contender, an undeniable force in high-profiled championship fights, and a world class superstar. If he sees championship gold wrapped around his waist again, it may not be the Blessed era, it may very well be his Best era.
