Max Holloway has done it all at 145 pounds and he’s no less ambitious when it comes to his expectations in the lightweight division.
“Blessed” recently made it official that he plans to move up in weight and join the UFC’s 155-pound roster following a 12-year run that saw him compete primarily as a featherweight and reign as that division’s champion from 2017 to 2019. Holloway had a chance to regain the featherweight title this past October at UFC 308, but lost to Ilia Topuria, who handed Holloway his first-ever knockout loss.
Moving from one deep division to another, Holloway hopes to follow in the footsteps of light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, who claimed the UFC middleweight title from rival Israel Adesanya in just his fourth fight for the promotion. He dropped the belt back to Adesanya in an immediate rematch, but two fights later he won a vacant light heavyweight title by defeating Jiri Prochazka.
Holloway called Pereira an inspiration during a recent Kick stream (h/t Championship Rounds):
Max Holloway is taking inspiration from Alex Pereira bouncing back after his loss to Adesanya
“We saw Alex Pereira get finished… Next fight he fought for a #1 contender spot, [then he] fought for the title and he’s on a spectacular title run…
Let’s mimic him. Let’s do… pic.twitter.com/XZ3THNSw7Q
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) November 8, 2024
“155, cannot wait,” Holloway said. “All I know is, we saw Alex Pereira get finished [by Adesanya], right? Next fight he fought for a No. 1 contender spot. Fought for the title and he’s on a title run right now, a spectacular title run. Let’s mimic it. Let’s do it.”
Since winning the light heavyweight title, Pereira has successfully defended it three times in 2024, making him one of the UFC’s most valuable players. A former kickboxing champion, the 37-year-old Pereira still has plenty of big fights ahead with No. 1 contender Magomed Ankalaev breathing down his neck and all-time great Jon Jones stating his preference would be to fight Pereira should he continue competing after his bout with Stipe Miocic at UFC 309.
Suffice to say, if the lightweight chapter of Holloway’s career is anything close to how Pereira reinvented himself, he’ll be more than pleased.
“I get inspiration in that,” Holloway said. “He’s a beast.”
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