Justin Gaethje Eyes rematch vs. Max Holloway

Justin Gaethje wants to avenge his loss to Max Holloway. Gaethje (26-5) will fight Paddy Pimblett (23-3) for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 on Jan. 24 in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, Holloway (27-8) will trade leather against Charles Oliveira (36-11) at UFC 326 on March 7 in Las Vegas.

Gaethje recently revealed that he is rooting for Holloway to beat Oliveira. Gaethje wants a rematch against Holloway if they both win their respective fights. Gaethje also hopes to see current lightweight champion Ilia Topuria move up a weight class. Gaethje would then defend his lightweight title against Holloway, along with the latter’s BMF title on the line, preferably at the White House in June.

High stakes

“I hope Max wins. I hope Ilia goes up,” Gaethje told the UFC. “And then I can fight Max on the White House card and get the BMF belt and the championship belt.”Gaethje has only lost to Holloway in his last four outings. Holloway defeated Gaethje for five rounds before knocking him out in the last second in an iconic brawl at UFC 300 in 2024. Gaethje has since bounced back with a win over Rafael Fiziev. Meanwhile, Holloway suffered his only knockout loss in a failed featherweight title bid against Ilia Topuria. “Blessed” bounced back with a win over Dustin Poirier, which also marked his permanent move to lightweight.