Max Holloway’s win over Dustin Poirier at UFC 318 marked a significant achievement for the former featherweight champion, but it also appears to be his only fight for the entire year of 2025. Despite the excitement generated from his victory in the main event where he retained the BMF title with a unanimous decision, Holloway suffered a hand injury that has delayed his return to the octagon until 2026. This postponement dampens the anticipation for future matchups involving Holloway following the Dustin Poirier UFC 318 fight.
Holloway Reflects on Recovery and Future Plans
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Holloway addressed the speculation surrounding his next opponent in the lightweight division. He acknowledged there were many possible intriguing fights ahead but made it clear that any hopes for him fighting again before the end of 2025 were unlikely due to the severity of his injury. Holloway said,
“I see a lot of people talking about who’s next, who’s this, there’s a lot of fun fights for me at [lightweight],”
and added,
“If I get the next title shot, that’d be sick, but if you have hopes of me fighting before the end of the year, probably not going to happen.”
He also revealed he is seeking expert medical advice as part of his recovery process, saying,
“I see a specialist sometime [soon], I already met with my doctor, now I got to go meet the specialist, but things are not looking to up for me fighting one more time this year. So all of that fight talk is on still, so we just get to see how the [lightweight division] is going to pan out.”
Post-UFC 308 Context and Lightweight Title Landscape
Before his latest victory, Holloway suffered a notable defeat in October at UFC 308, where Ilia Topuria handed him the first knockout loss of his career. Topuria then vacated the 145-pound featherweight title and captured the lightweight championship by knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. With Topuria’s next opponent still unknown, fans have speculated that fighters such as Arman Tsarukyan, Paddy Pimblett, and Justin Gaethje may be next in line.
Holloway wonders why his name is not being mentioned more in these conversations, especially considering his history with Gaethje. Holloway reminded fans of his decisive knockout victory over Gaethje at UFC 300, emphasizing his continued relevance within the division.
Holloway’s Personal Perspective Amid Uncertainty
Beyond his professional career, Holloway shared a glimpse into his personal life and mindset during this downtime. He said,
“I get to be a fan a little bit,”
and added,
“[I get to] be a father. … I’m excited for the future, but what’s next? I couldn’t tell you. Now this stupid injury pushed me back a little bit, so we don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Frustrations with Fan Expectations and Division Debates
Holloway expressed frustration with some fans and their understanding of the division’s dynamics. He criticized the idea that a rematch with Topuria would not make sense due to their previous fight, and questioned the logic behind title shot opportunities for other fighters. Speaking candidly, he said,
“But even if I didn’t have this injury, the talks is wild. At the end of the day [fans are saying]… a lot of people are saying me and Ilia don’t make sense because my last fight before this one was Ilia, and he did what he did to me, right? But then how do you make a case for someone that I fought — I know he didn’t fight Ilia, but I fought him — I did what I did to him, and he’s going to fight next for the title after just winning one [fight]. Because most of you guys don’t know what you’re talking about. Most of you guys don’t know shit about fighting.”
Looking Ahead: What This Means for Holloway and the Lightweight Title Picture
Max Holloway’s recovery from his hand injury will keep him out of competition until 2026, postponing what many viewed as promising fights within the lightweight division. His absence adds more uncertainty to a title landscape already influenced by Ilia Topuria’s rise and the ambitions of fighters such as Justin Gaethje and Charles Oliveira. Fans and analysts will closely watch Holloway’s rehabilitation and the evolution of the lightweight division, as his return could impact title contention and matchups when he comes back to fighting shape.