Holloway despairs: “It’s ridiculous... Kick me out of the ranking...”
The Hawaiian fighter has repeatedly asked the UFC not to fight at featherweight. Before his fight against Poirier, he stated that he does not want to go down again.
Max Holloway will have the immense honor of bidding farewell to a legend like Dustin Poirier on Saturday, July 19. It will be a retirement fight for “The Diamond” and potentially a rematch for the Hawaiian—a bout that may not carry major implications in the lightweight rankings, but holds enormous significance in MMA history, given the stature of both fighters’ careers.
Still, Holloway hopes his ventures into the lightweight division will carry more weight—perhaps even setting him on a path toward a title shot. However, the UFC appears to have other plans regarding his role and the challenges it wants him to face.
In an interview with Mike Bohn, Holloway addressed why he remains ranked No. 1 at featherweight and what that means for his future: “It’s ridiculous. I’m not going back to 145 (featherweight). Kick me out of the rankings— that stage is over,” said the 33-year-old.
Despite Holloway’s stance, the UFC seems eager to keep him at featherweight. With Ilia Topuria’s rise and a shortage of notable names in the division, Holloway remains a valuable piece—unlike the lightweight class, which is already filled with high-profile, fan-favorite fighters.
That said, Holloway’s inability to safely cut down to 145 pounds is likely the deciding factor. The Hawaiian has always been a large featherweight, and as fighters age, their bodies naturally fill out, making drastic weight cuts increasingly difficult and dangerous.
Max Holloway calls to be removed from UFC's featherweight rankings ahead of #UFC318.
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) July 8, 2025
"That's kind of ridiculous. I'm not going back down to '45. I'm over it."
(via @MikeBohn) pic.twitter.com/j5wKQ9Fkbk
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Such extreme cuts are often unsustainable and unhealthy. While the UFC may try to entice him with big paydays and marquee matchups, it appears this time Holloway is making the full-time move to lightweight—for good.
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