Max Holloway has some unfinished business with UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, and ‘Blessed’ wants to turn things around even if Topuria chooses to move up to welterweight.
Holloway will defend his BMF belt next year in a rematch with Charles Oliveira at UFC 326. Last night, during the 2026 season press conference, the promotion surprised fans by announcing this fight.
Max Holloway says he will pursue the rematch with Ilia Topuria up to 170 pounds
After the press conference, Max Holloway told The Mac Life in an interview that he and ‘El Matador’ have unfinished business, and if the latter comes back, whether he wants to fight him, even if it means moving up to 170 pounds. He said:
“I’ve got unfinished business, so maybe we can go to 170 if he gets that [family issue] finished.”
Check out Max Holloway’s comments below:
During the same interview posted above, Holloway showed support for Topuria, who is currently dealing with personal issues and has announced that he will not fight again.
Despite their differences in the octagonthe BMF titleholder has always shown support for his former opponent, even when the latter posted on X that he was taking time off until the end of the first quarter of 2026.
Last year at UFC 308, Topuria was the first man to knock out Holloway. ‘El Matador’ then moved up to lightweight and took the vacant lightweight belt with a Round 1 KO of Charles Oliveira.
On the other hand, Holloway also made a permanent move to 155 pounds after losing to Topuria and returned to victory against Dustin Poirier at UFC 318 in July. After playing spoiler in Poirier’s retirement fight, he Topuria shouted for a second chancethis time at 155 pounds.
However, the Georgian-Spaniard has shown no interest in this match. He plans to fight Paddy Pimblett next and then pursue a superfight with Islam Makhachev.
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