Max Holloway is open to competing in multiple weight classes after UFC 329.
Holloway (27-9 MMA, 23-9 UFC) welcomes Conor McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) back to the octagon in a five-round welterweight headliner July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (Paramount+).
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The former UFC featherweight champion has been at lightweight for three of his past four fights, where he defended his BMF title against Dustin Poirier at UFC 318, before losing it to Charles Oliveira at UFC 326 in March. Now he makes his 170-pound debut against McGregor, but will he stay there once the fight is over?
“We’ll see what happens,” Stake.com ambassador Holloway told MMA Junkie. “Never say never (to staying at 170 after this). I’m not a guy that wants to jump to conclusions. We’ll do what we do and we’re going to figure it out after that. I have history with the champion at 155. A lot of people are talking that even though this fight is at 170, that the winner of our fight could go down and fight at ’55.
“I see a lot of people talking about the winner of this could even go and jump to see Islam (Makhachev). At the end of the day, I don’t know what’s going on. We’ll see. The UFC loves throwing curveballs. They love doing wild stuff. If you told me with my last fight I would be here fighting Conor McGregor in my next one, I would tell you you’re lying. So we’re here now, and life is good.”
McGregor has already fought three times at welterweight before, but Holloway is not concerned with the size difference.
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“Weight is nothing but a number,” Holloway said. “Everyone is saying, ‘Small this, small that.’ We’re going to find out Saturday night. It is what it is. I can’t wait. I’m grateful that UFC blessed me with this opportunity and good news. At the end of the day, I just can’t wait to go out there and have some fun.”
Holloway, 34, says the work has been done to bulk up to welterweight as he attempts to avenge his August 2013 unanimous decision loss to McGregor, which came at 145 pounds.
“I’m going to be a good size,” Holloway said. “I’m a pretty good size 170, I’m going to tell you that much. Shout to my wife. My wife has been holding it down in the kitchen for me. I brought Tyler Minton again. He’s back with me helping me out a little bit. Then fight week out here I have Ivan Flores as a striking coach, so I think we have all our bases covered.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Max Holloway on staying at welterweight after UFC 329: ‘Never say never’
