Jul 19, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, UNITED STATES; Max Holloway (red gloves) fights against Dustin Poirier (blue gloves) during UFC 318 at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

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“In A Great Position” – Dana White Believes Max Holloway To Be Ready For An Epic Rematch!

Dana White happy with Max Holloway performance; believes he is destined for a great things, including high profile rematch!

Max Holloway has always been one of those fighters who bounces back stronger after taking a hit. The Hawaiian legend built his reputation on being nearly impossible to finish, racking up win after win in the featherweight division where he ruled for years. His crisp boxing, endless cardio, and iron chin made him a nightmare for opponents who thought they could outlast him. But then October happened, and Ilia Topuria did something nobody had ever done before. He knocked out Max Holloway!

That knockout loss to Topuria was supposed to be a changing of the guard moment. Many fans and analysts wondered if Holloway’s best days were behind him after getting dropped cold for the first time in his career. The defeat cost him his featherweight title shot and raised serious questions about where he goes next. But instead of wallowing in defeat, Holloway did what champions do. He moved up to lightweight, defended the BMF title against Dustin Poirier, and proved he’s still got plenty left in the tank.

Holloway’s recent run has been impressive despite that one knockout loss. He’s gone 4-1 in his last five fights, with wins over some serious killers like Gaethje and now Poirier. That Topuria loss stings, but it was also his first knockout defeat ever. The fact that he bounced back so quickly and dominated at lightweight proves he’s far from washed up.

Dana White Optimistic About Max Holloway vs Ilia Topuria

When reporters asked Dana White directly about a potential rematch between Holloway and Topuria, his response was telling. The UFC boss seemed genuinely excited about the possibility, especially with both the lightweight title and BMF belt potentially up for grabs. This would be a massive fight that writes itself. The knockout artist who ended Holloway’s title reign against the volume striker looking for revenge.

“I think he’s in a great position right now. He just defended that BMF title, he’s ranked No. 4 there. Anything is possible for Max right now.”

Dana White on Max Holloway potentially fighting for the title next:

“I think he’s in a great position right now… anything is possible for Max right now.” 👀 #UFC318 pic.twitter.com/hxInNVu0dJ
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 20, 2025

The timing couldn’t be better for this rematch either. Topuria has established himself as the new king at lightweight after moving up and claiming that title. Holloway has proven he belongs in the 155 pound division by beating elite competition and defending his BMF belt. Both fighters are in their primes, both have compelling storylines, and both have something to prove to each other!

(Image Credit: Stephen Lew – Imagn Images)

Dana White

Ilia Topuria

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!