{"id":360886,"date":"2026-07-04T15:02:30","date_gmt":"2026-07-04T09:32:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=360886"},"modified":"2026-07-04T15:02:30","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T09:32:30","slug":"max-holloway-not-ruling-out-staying-at-welterweight-after-ufc-329-with-interest-in-islam-makhachev-bout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/04\/max-holloway-not-ruling-out-staying-at-welterweight-after-ufc-329-with-interest-in-islam-makhachev-bout\/","title":{"rendered":"Max Holloway not ruling out staying at welterweight after UFC 329 with interest in Islam Makhachev bout"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Follow us on Google Discover<\/span> <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Max Holloway admits it might be a tricky decision if he was offered title shots in two weight classes.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Holloway believes he’ll \u2018drown\u2019 Conor McGregor on July 11 to finally earn revenge over his former foe contained in the Octagon.<\/p>\n

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A win for \u2018Blessed\u2019, because of the magnitude of this rematch, will likely earn him one other huge fight following this move as much as welterweight.<\/p>\n

While Holloway facing Justin Gaethje in a rematch back at lightweight is one option, it isn\u2019t the one offer that interests the previous BMF and featherweight champion.<\/p>\n

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Can Conor McGregor \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea overcome a five-year layoff to beat Max Holloway again?<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Photo by Josh Hedges\/Zuffa LLC\/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

Max Holloway doesn\u2019t know whether he\u2019d pick to challenge Justin Gaethje or Islam Makhachev next<\/h2>\n

Max Holloway isn\u2019t concerned about moving as much as welterweight so as to face Conor McGregor of their highly-anticipated rematch.<\/p>\n

Some have even argued that Holloway will profit from this modification in weight class by allowing him to compete and not using a significant cut.<\/p>\n

In a recent interview, \u2018Blessed\u2019 was asked whether he\u2019d select to return to lightweight and fight for the title or challenge for the welterweight belt if he gets offered each opportunities with a win.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’d like to, each of those fights are fun,\u201d he told MMA Junkie<\/a>. \u201cBut, why not return all the way down to \u201855 after which do something amazing after which perhaps come back up. We see what happens, you understand. I’d like to fight each of them and that\u2019s a tricky one, man. I don\u2019t know what I\u2019d select.\u201d<\/p>\n

A rematch with Justin Gaethje, or just facing a special top lightweight, would appear to make more sense for Holloway.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the potential of difficult a champion like Islam Makhachev at 170 kilos is something that interests the previous featherweight titleholder.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the ability to have the Islam fight, bro, and the best way Islam\u2019s profession went, that\u2019d be pretty sick to share the Octagon with that guy. So, at the tip of the day, we\u2019ll need to wait until after the fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

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How high would Conor McGregor beating Max Holloway at UFC 329 rank amongst one of the best returns?<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Conor McGregor celebrates after beating Max Holloway in 2013. Credit: Jared Wickerham\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

Fortunately for Holloway, he\u2019s found himself on this exact hypothetical scenario up to now.<\/p>\n

After knocking Gaethje out in the ultimate second of their BMF title fight, the fan favorite seemingly had title shots in two divisions as potential options.<\/p>\n

On that occasion, he selected to maneuver back to featherweight as an alternative of doubtless organising a clash with Makhachev.<\/p>\n

Many questioned, each before and after his loss to Ilia Topuria, whether he\u2019d made the improper decision to drop to 145 kilos, given how impressive he was when beating Gaethje at lightweight.<\/p>\n

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Follow us on Google Discover Max Holloway admits it might be a tricky decision if he was offered title shots in two weight classes. Holloway believes he’ll \u2018drown\u2019 Conor McGregor on July 11 to finally earn revenge over his former foe contained in the Octagon. A win for \u2018Blessed\u2019, because of the magnitude of this […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":360887,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[338],"tags":[9226,9711,2522,1794,13132,6026,10731,9415,3928,10774],"class_list":["post-360886","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-bout","tag-holloway","tag-interest","tag-islam","tag-makhachev","tag-max","tag-ruling","tag-staying","tag-ufc","tag-welterweight"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t