Solving the Max Holloway dilemma: Matchmaking for 'Blessed'
Max Holloway is in a curious situation, coming off a win that somehow feels like he was robbed, leaving him with no clear direction in a division with no strong title contender.
UFC 329 was Max Holloway's chance to avenge a 13-year-old loss to Conor McGregor from their featherweight days. At the time, a young McGregor defeated an even younger Holloway via unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 26. Yet, when Holloway finally exacted his revenge at UFC 329 at welterweight, the win was hollow. Given to him by a freak injury suffered by the Irishman, who has now left Holloway without a clear path forward.
Where does Max Holloway go from here?
After UFC 329, Max Holloway called for an immediate rematch with Conor McGregor, but it is unlikely he'll get one. With how brittle McGregor now seems, it's more probable that the UFC will match him up with either Michael Chandler or Jorge Masvidal, if the latter is re-signed. Both men are over-the-hill and on losing streaks, just like McGregor. Holloway, meanwhile, remains one of the best fighters in the world, and is one of the two fighters who most recently beat newly minted UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. The other is Charles Oliveira. So perhaps a title fight could be in the cards? Unfortunately, even that is unlikely.
Max Holloway defeats Conor McGregor by TKO in Round 1#UFC329 pic.twitter.com/52BnFWgeh2
Holloway is coming off a win, but it's a win due to McGregor tearing his own knee within a minute of their rematch. To make matters worse, it's a win over a 38-year-old McGregor on a losing streak, with five years of cage-rust. It's also his first win since his lopsided BMF title loss to Oliveira himself, who outwrestled Holloway to win via unanimous decision at UFC 326. Oliveira, who also beat Gaethje, has a stronger case for a title shot, as he is on a win streak. Arman Tsarukyan, who is also on a win streak, and has a win over 'do Bronx,' also has a stronger claim than Holloway. Thus, Holloway has two choices, and both should be title eliminators. He needs a clear-cut win before facing Gaethje again.
He could face Paddy Pimblett, who is ranked right below him at #5 in the UFC lightweight rankings, and is coming off a stunning first-round submission win over Benoît Saint Denis at UFC 329. Alternatively, he could face Tsarukyan, who is ranked #2 and hasn't fought since 2025. The bout would be stylistically important for Holloway, who now faces calls from fans to prove himself against a strong wrestler after his disastrous performance against Oliveira. A win against either man would almost certainly solidify himself as the next number one contender, otherwise he can stick to his guns and wait for a trilogy bout with McGregor, whenever that would even be, as the Irishman is now expected to spend a year in recovery.
