Apr 13, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Max Holloway (blue gloves) reacts after defeating Justin Gaethje (not pictured) during UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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Max Holloway Teases Major Rematches After His UFC 318 Fight Against Dustin Poirier

Max Holloway ready to take on major rematches after he concludes his business with Dustin Poirier at UFC 318!

Max Holloway had built his career on relentless pressure and an iron chin that seemed unbreakable for years. That changed when Ilia Topuria knocked him out cold at UFC 308, marking the first time anyone had ever put Holloway to sleep. It was a shocking moment that left fans wondering if the former featherweight king had lost a step.

But the BMF champion is already looking ahead to bigger things after his upcoming trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 318 on July 19th in New Orleans. And he’s not just thinking about settling old scores, he’s got his eyes on championship gold at lightweight. Holloway’s relationship with Poirier goes way back to 2012 when they first met in the octagon. Back then, Holloway was just a young prospect making his UFC debut, and Poirier handed him a tough loss. They met again in 2019 for the interim lightweight title, and once again Poirier got the better of him. Now they’re set to complete their trilogy in what will be Poirier’s retirement fight in his home state of Louisiana.

Max Holloway Ready For Ilia Topuria Or Charles Oliveira

Just two weeks before their showdown, UFC 317 will crown a new lightweight champion when Ilia Topuria faces Charles Oliveira on June 28th. Holloway has history with both men. He knocked out Oliveira back in 2015 at featherweight due to a freak neck injury, while Topuria just handed him that brutal knockout loss last October.

“I still have title contentions in my mind and a couple weeks before us, there’s a title fight at 155. I got history with both men [Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira]. At the end of the day, I go out there, I do my thing. I make a statement. I get a statement win. Who’s to say your boy’s not fighting for 155 undisputed title at the end of the year?”

Max Holloway is looking to beat Dustin Poirier and fight the winner of Topuria vs Oliveira 👀

“I got history with both [Ilia and Charles]… if I get a statement win, who’s to say your boy won’t fight for the title at the end of the year.”

🎥 @BlessedMMA pic.twitter.com/XnDiUHEz1W
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 13, 2025

Holloway is clearly thinking beyond just beating Poirier. The man wants another shot at championship glory, and he believes a statement win over ‘The Diamond’ could put him right back in title contention. But, the lightweight division has become a shark tank over the past few years. With Islam Makhachev recently vacating his belt and fighters like Topuria moving up from featherweight, the division is wide open. Holloway sees an opportunity to capture his second UFC title and cement his legacy as one of the greatest fighters ever. Of course, none of this matters if he can’t get past Poirier first!

(Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images)

Dustin Poirier

Max Holloway

UFC 317

UFC 318

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!