Following another vintage “Blessed” performance at UFC 318, Max Holloway is on the rise once again.
The 33-year-old from Waiʻanae moved up to No. 4 in the UFC’s official lightweight rankings this week after a dominant victory over longtime rival Dustin Poirier on Saturday in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Holloway swapped places with Justin Gaethje, who dropped to No. 5, while Poirier, who announced his retirement following the bout, was removed from the rankings entirely.
Holloway’s win was historic in several respects — not only did he avenge two previous losses to Poirier, but he also became the first fighter to successfully defend the UFC’s symbolic “BMF” title. The former featherweight champion has now firmly planted himself in the upper echelon of the 155-pound division.
With the win, the conversation quickly shifted to what’s next for Holloway, and the options are both plentiful and intriguing.
UFC president Dana White acknowledged during the UFC 318 post-fight press conference that Holloway could be in line for a shot at current lightweight champion Ilia Topuria. The two have history: Topuria handed Holloway the first knockout loss of his career in 2024 when they fought for the featherweight title.
Another possible opponent is Charles Oliveira. The Brazilian veteran, who lost to Topuria at UFC 317, remains a top contender despite being temporarily out of the title picture. Holloway and Oliveira previously met in 2015 in what was Holloway’s first UFC main event, a fight he won by TKO after Oliveira suffered a neck injury.
Both Holloway and Oliveira currently have 23 career UFC victories, tied for second-most all-time behind Jim Miller’s 27. A rematch between the two would not only rekindle their competitive history but also decide sole possession of second place in the UFC wins leaderboard.
Other intriguing matchups include Dan Hooker, a fan-favorite who many believe is worthy of a BMF title shot, and of course, the long-discussed rematch with Conor McGregor. Holloway has long called a second fight with the former two-division champion “the fight”, a bout that would reunite two future Hall of Famers who first faced off in 2013 early in their storied careers.
While nothing has been made official, Holloway is expected to return to the Octagon by the end of 2025 or early 2026. One thing is certain, the “Blessed Express” remains on the track.