Waianae’s Max Holloway is moving on from the featherweight division.
In a video from his personal YouTube channel released Saturday, Holloway announced he plans to move up from the 145 pound weight class to the lightweight division (155 pounds) moving forward.
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Holloway is considered one of the UFC’s greatest ever at the featherweight division. From Jan. 4, 2014 to July 27, 2019, he won 14 consecutive fights at 145, the last five of which were for the belt.
On Oct. 26, Holloway lost via knockout to Ilia Topuria in the UFC featherweight title fight, which also served as the main event of UFC 308. It was the first knockout loss of his career.
“I can honestly say I think I’m done with 145,” Holloway said in his video. “We’re only getting older, I turn 33 (in December). … This is a new chapter. This is where we start, this is where we begin and I’m super excited for it.”
Holloway joked that although his latest weight cut to 145 went smoothly, he had to give up ramen, which he did not enjoy. He also said the cut does take a toll on his body, even if it goes well.
“Never say never, but I can honestly look you guys in the eyes and say I’m probably not ever going back to (featherweight),” he said. “I loved what I did, I did what I did, I did what I had to do there. I worked my way back, I clawed my way back up to the championship fight multiple times.”
With a career mixed martial arts record of 26-8, which includes 22-8 in the UFC, only two of Holloway’s fights in the UFC have taken place outside of the featherweight division. The first one was for the UFC’s interim lightweight title, a unanimous decision loss to Dustin Poirier in April 2019.
Five years later, Holloway defeated Justin Gaethje in an electrifying last-second knockout at UFC 300 in April in a lightweight bout, creating one of the most electrifying moments in the history of the sport.
Holloway is the only UFC fighter ranked in multiple divisions. He’s currently the No. 2 featherweight and No. 5 lightweight. He stated a preference to return to the octagon at the UFC’s International Fight Week event in the summer of 2025, which takes place annually in Las Vegas.
“The blessed express is still on the move,” Holloway said at the end of his video. “Make sure you guys get your tickets. Make sure you guys get your seats. Buckle up, because we rollin’, baby. See you guys later.”