MMA fighter Max Holloway said he would be open to returning to the UFC featherweight cage next year, provided the fight makes sense and is “undeniable”, but underscored he won’t call anyone out; he also expressed interest in a fourth fight with current champion Alexander Volkanovski.
Max Holloway, a UFC featherweight, could soon see a sequel in the cage if the UFC matchmakers make the right decisions. Holloway is fresh off an impressive third-round KO of The Korean Zombie at UFC Singapore, a victory that secured his flawless record in the UFC featherweight bracket, aside from three losses to reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski. These losses to Volkanovski have posed a significant hurdle for Holloway, making a fourth match improbable and leaving his future under a cloud of uncertainty.
Holloway discussed the conditions under which he would return to the cage in a YouTube interview. He stated, “2023, right now, we’ll see what happens. I would love to fight if it makes sense. I won’t call anybody out. Ideally, I’d return early next year around February or March. If they propose something I truly can’t refuse, I’ll definitely fight once more. I am leaning more towards starting next year. There were several injuries leading up to this point. Personally, there are a few things my wife and I want to finalize. In the end, we’ll see what comes up and go from there.”
While Holloway hasn’t quite managed to overcome Volkanovski, he maintains his position as the clear-cut No. 2 featherweight worldwide by successfully defending his rank against potential challengers such as Arnold Allen, Yair Rodriguez, and Calvin Kattar. Ironically, this continuous success has put Holloway in a bizarre matchmaking bind, making it challenging to determine who he should challenge next. Holloway’s view on the current featherweight landscape is, “I’ve fought most of the top 10 guys, I think there are only two or three guys in the top 10 that I didn’t fight. A plethora of new names and faces and there’s nobody I want to call out. I don’t need to call out anyone.”
Being a two-time champion himself, Holloway is determined to keep marching in one of MMA’s most competitive divisions without the assurance of another shot at the top contender. Yet, he still has faith in his potential to achieve more. He believes he has unfinished business with Volkanovski. “For me, looking forward to another title shot, if it’s Volk holding the belt, that would be fantastic. We just need to be irresistible. Fans, you have a role to play. If you want to see the fight, let it be known. UFC is renowned for pitting the world’s best fighters against each other. I’m not retiring, I’m not demanding any privileges. I’ll fight anybody to reclaim my spot. Like I always say, be irresistible and keep showing why I can’t be ignored and just probably reclaim what’s rightfully ours.”