Jul 2, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; (EditorÕs Note: Graphic Content) Alexander Volkanovski (red gloves) and Max Holloway (blue gloves) fight in a bout during UFC 276 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

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Max Holloway Reveals Number Of Fights Left Before He Calls It A Day!

Max Holloway reveals his projected timeline for hanging up the gloves for good after a long career in the UFC!

Time catches up with every fighter eventually, even the ones who seem bulletproof. Max Holloway entered the UFC in 2012 as the young fighter at just 20 years old. His baby face and Hawaiian charm made him an instant fan favorite, but nobody expected him to become one of the greatest featherweights in MMA history. Now at 33, Holloway has spent nearly 15 years trading punches with the best fighters in the world, and the wear is starting to show.

The former featherweight champion recently opened up about his retirement plans in a candid interview with Taisei Discovers. His words carried the weight of someone who has been through countless wars inside the octagon.

Max Holloway Reveals His Potential Retirement Timeline

Holloway revealed that he’s thinking about hanging up his gloves within the next two to three years, with maybe four or five fights left in his career. For a fighter who once seemed invincible, hearing him discuss his exit strategy feels like watching the sun set on a legendary career.Holloway’s retirement timeline isn’t based on age alone but on his ability to compete with elite fighters. He explained his philosophy with typical Hawaiian wisdom, saying he will keep fighting as long as he can hang with the top guys. The moment he starts struggling against mid tier competition, he will know it’s time to walk away.

“As long as I can keep my body healthy. If I could tell you right now I would think I’d have two more years, maybe like four fights, maybe five fights, two, three more years, but we’ll see what happens.”

🚨Max Holloway on when he plans to retire from the sport:

"My fighting career is gonna go as long as I can still compete with the top enchilada…

when I get to the point where I'm not competing with the top guys and it kind of just looks like I'm barely hanging in there with… pic.twitter.com/ecslsoBp7Y
— MMA Pros Pick (@MMA_PROS_PICK_) July 8, 2025

Holloway currently sits at number five in the UFC lightweight rankings after moving up from featherweight. With two to three years left, he has enough time for one serious title run at 155 pounds. That’s assuming his body holds up and he stays healthy, which becomes harder with each passing fight. The Hawaiian has already absorbed more damage than most fighters see in their entire careers, making his timeline feel both reasonable and necessary.

Holloway admitted that fighting at 155 is much more fun than the brutal weight cuts to featherweight. The extra 10 pounds means less suffering during fight camps and more energy on fight night. Fans should appreciate every moment of Holloway’s remaining fights because warriors like him don’t come around often. When he does finally walk away, the sport will lose one of its most genuine and skilled competitors.

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Max Holloway

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!