Max Holloway addresses the future of the ‘BMF’ title, praises Diego Lopes as an ‘animal’ and legit contender

A huge part of the reason why Max Holloway took a fight against Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 was knowing that a win would give him any number of options for his career.

He not only won but Holloway pulled off one of the greatest finishes in UFC history when he pointed to the ground late in the fifth round and invited Gaethje to throw down with him. With one second remaining on the clock, Holloway delivered a stunning knockout that sent Gaethje face first to the canvas as the crowd at T-Mobile Arena erupted with applause.

That fight crowned Holloway as the “BMF” champion but he ultimately decided that his next move was returning to featherweight where he challenges Ilia Topuria for the title in the UFC 308 main event. While the title fight is all that matters to him right now, Holloway knows a win on Saturday puts him right back in that same advantageous position and he promises he hasn’t forgotten about his other belt.

“For sure. I think so for sure,” Holloway said about defending the ‘BMF’ title. “At the end of the day in this sport, the thing that you want is options. I go out there, I get my hand raised. What is the saying? The world is my oyster. I can’t wait for it.”

Assuming he gets through Topuria and becomes a two-time featherweight champion, Holloway understands that there’s going to be plenty of work to do in that division as well.

Winning the title potentially lines up Holloway for a fourth fight against Alexander Volkanovski after suffering three past losses to him. Volkanovski was promised a shot at the belt in his return to action following a knockout loss to Topuria back in February.

Of course, Holloway hasn’t forgotten about the other name in the hat right now and that belongs to Diego Lopes, who is actually serving as the backup fighter for the UFC 308 main event. Whether it’s Volkanovski or Lopes next, Holloway can’t wait for those kinds of challenges as champion.

“He’s an animal,” Holloway said about Lopes. “The way he’s been fighting. Taking fights on short notice. Showing up in those short notice fights and he’s a beast. When I saw that he was the backup, I was kind of blown away for a little bit because of all the talk that Alex was saying that he’s the next guy up in line and this and that and then also, it makes sense that Alex ain’t no backup fighter. They told him he’d get the next title fight.

“It’s just weird that they’re telling Alex he has the next title fight and then to have another guy as the backup. But I guess so. If you look at the heavyweight division, anything can happen in the world. At the end of the day, I think Diego Lopes is a promising upcoming star. He’s not even upcoming anymore. He’s doing what he’s doing. It’s cool. Congrats to him having that moment.”

Before he can think about defending his “BMF” title or really paying attention to who’s next at featherweight, Holloway first has to reclaim that 145-pound title on Saturday.

While he can’t totally encapsulate the feeling of winning at UFC 308 given that it hasn’t happened yet, Holloway has a good idea at just how much another title run would mean to him.

“It’s going to be amazing,” Holloway said. “With all the naysayers, with all the doubters, with all the fanbase that he’s bringing in, the support that he has. It’s going to be great. I can’t wait to go out there and prove to the world.

“To be the best you’ve got to beat the best and the best is ‘Blessed.’ On Oct. 26, I get to show the world again.”