“Let’s Run It Back”: Max Holloway aims for a Topuria reboot with double gold on the line

Max Holloway has set his sights on Ilia Topuria again, and this time he wants everything on the table. The BMF champion is aiming for a path through Charles Oliveira at UFC 326 and straight to a rematch with Topuria for both the BMF and Undisputed Lightweight titles.

Max Holloway eyes Ilia Topuria rematch after UFC 326 clash with Charles Oliveira

Speaking to TNT Sports, Holloway explained his ideal scenario, referencing their first meeting and the stakes he wants next time. “In a perfect world, we’ll go out there, raise my hand and do it very fashionably. Make it unmistakable, take a moment. Then go get Ilia, with the BMF title on the line and the undisputed title as well,” Holloway said. He added that Topuria “was talking about the latter at 145, but the title wasn’t on the line,” and shifted responsibility back to the promotion: “You can’t be mad at me – be mad at the UFC. They didn’t allow it.”

Holloway’s frustration is easy to understand considering how the first fight ended. Topuria stopped him in the main event of UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi on October 26, 2024, defending the featherweight title with a third-round knockout that handed Holloway the first KO loss of his career. A right hand hurt Holloway, a left hook dropped him, and the ensuing ground-and-pound forced the stoppage.

He captured the BMF title by knocking out Justin Gaethje with a walk-off right hand in the final seconds of their fight at UFC 300, a finish that immediately became one of the card’s defining moments. He then moved up to lightweight full-time and defeated Dustin Poirier in a trilogy fight at UFC318becoming the first BMF champion to record a successful defense. The UFC has now booked Holloway to defend the BMF title against former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira in a rematch at UFC 326 on March 7, 2026 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Topuria’s position has changed just as dramatically. After knocking out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 to win the featherweight title, he defended against Holloway at UFC 308, then advanced and knocked out Oliveira in the first round at UFC 317 to claim the vacant lightweight title and become a two-division champion. Along the way, he repeatedly spoke about his struggles making 145 pounds and suggested his featherweight run was nearing an end, which contextualizes Holloway’s comment about “the last one at 145” and the title not being on the line.

The lightweight landscape is busy. An interim title fight between Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324 will provide a mandatory challenger for Topuria. Topuria has expressed interest in facing the winner, while Holloway is trying to force his way into that conversation by linking his BMF government to a bid for undisputed gold.

For Holloway, the equation is simple: beat Oliveira again at UFC 326, retain the BMF title and leave the UFC with a lucrative storyline, revenge on the one man who stopped him, with two titles on the line.