Max Holloway has big goals for 2026.
Later this year, Holloway defends his “BMF” title against in a rematch with Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 326. Holloway and Oliveira previously fought at UFC Saskatoon in 2015 in the featherweight division, with Holloway winning after Oliveira suffered a throat injury. In the decade since, both men became UFC champions — Holloway at featherweight, Oliveira at lightweight — and now the future Hall of Famers finally run things back in a bout that Holloway has high expectations for.
“Amazing fighter. Great fighter,” Holloway told TNT Fight Sports. “Just sucks that he has to run into me again. …
“It’s going to be a fun fight. He’s your fighter’s favorite fighter, I’m your fighter’s favorite fighter, and that’s what you’re going to get. A lot of fans online are kind of heartbroken about this fight. At the end of the day, I get it. It is what it is. Whenever you get a Charles Oliveira, whenever you get myself fighting, you know it’s going to be a fight, so I’m excited.”
But Holloway is excited for more than just the opportunity to fight Oliveira again; he’s excited for what it may lead to. “Blessed” moved up to 155 pounds after losing his title bid against then-featherweight champion Ilia Topuria at UFC 308. Now, Topuria is the UFC lightweight champion, and Holloway hopes a win over Oliveira may get him a rematch with the first man to ever knock him out.
“Of course,” Holloway said when asked if he wanted another shot at Topuria. “In a perfect world, we go out there, get my hand raised, do it very fashionably, do it undeniable, make a moment, go get Ilia, have the ‘BMF’ title on the line, and the undisputed. I know he was talking about the last one at ‘45, but the title wasn’t on the line. You can’t be mad at me, be mad at the UFC. They didn’t allow it.
“At the end of the day, it is what it is. If we can do that, get it done, it would be a huge fight.”
Holloway has some competition, though. Topuria is currently taking time off from fighting to deal with issues in his personal life, and so next week, Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett are fighting for an interim lightweight title in the main event of UFC 324.
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