Max Holloway revealed that he told a UFC commentator he intended to compete at middleweight before the end of his career. The disclosure adds an intriguing dimension to the former featherweight champion's long-term fighting plans.
Max Holloway has revealed that he told a UFC commentator he plans to compete at middleweight before he hangs up his gloves, adding a new layer of ambition to the former champion's career trajectory.
Holloway, 34, is currently ranked fourth in the lightweight division and ninth pound-for-pound in the UFC. The Hawaiian fighter out of Gracie Technics carries a professional record of 27-9 and has built his reputation as one of the most prolific strikers in the sport, landing 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 69-inch reach, he has already navigated two weight classes across his career, and the disclosure suggests he has ambitions to push into a third before retiring.
The comments were made directly to a UFC commentator, though Holloway offered no specific timeline for a potential move up to 185 pounds. At his current division, he competes at lightweight, having previously cemented his legacy with a dominant run at featherweight where he held the title. Moving to middleweight would represent a jump of two full weight classes from his original home at 145 pounds.
Why it matters
- A move to middleweight would make Holloway one of the rare fighters to compete seriously across three UFC divisions
- His striking volume and output would translate as a stylistic threat at 185 pounds, though the power dynamics against larger opponents remain an open question
- The disclosure adds uncertainty to his lightweight future, particularly given his current fourth-place ranking in that division
- Any eventual middleweight appearance would carry significant card-level appeal given his pound-for-pound standing
