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.<\/p>
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<\/a> 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.<\/p> 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.<\/p> “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?”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>Max Holloway Ready For Ilia Topuria Or Charles Oliveira<\/h2>