Max Holloway Calls out Ilia Topuria, Islam Makhachev After UFC 300 KO vs. Gaethje

Julia StumbaughApril 14, 2024

Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

After his knockout win over Justin Gaethje in the BMF championship fight during UFC 300, Max Holloway is ready for more.

Holloway followed up his stunning Saturday night victory by calling out Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev:

Marc Raimondi @marcraimondiHolloway is calling out Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev, the champions in two different divisions — and he has a case to be top contender for both. #UFC300

Topuria is the current UFC featherweight champion, while Makhachev holds the lightweight title.

Holloway, a former featherweight champion who defended his title three times, fell to Dustin Poirier in his 2019 bid to become lightweight champion.

Sunday’s fight against Gaethje marked Holloway’s first time moving up to 155 pounds for a professional fight since the loss to Poirier.

Topuria was in the crowd to watch Holloway earn the knockout with one second left.

UFC @ufcThe reactions from fighter row 👀 #UFC300 pic.twitter.com/CBd7xn353B

Makhachev meanwhile extended congratulations to Holloway after the fight.

Makhachev Islam @MAKHACHEVMMAJustin is a warrior, keep your head up champ !

Spectacular performance by Max, congrats 👏🏻

Holloway’s move up to lightweight doesn’t mean a match against Topuria is out of the question.

The fighter’s manager, Tim Simpson, recently said on The MMA Hour that Holloway “really wants to fight Topuria” (h/t Alexander K. Lee of MMA Fighting.)

“He feels like he’s going to whoop him,” Simpson said. “That’s Max’s words.”

Topuria has won 15 consecutive professional fights, including a 7-0 record in the UFC.

Alexander Volkanovski, who lost his featherweight title to Topuria with a TKO loss February, has stated that he wants a rematch with Topuria.

Topuria, meanwhile, has claimed he is “never” going to give Holloway a “chance to fight for the title.”

Now that Holloway’s shocking knockout punch has earned him the BMF belt and his third straight win, however, Topuria could face the 12-year UFC veteran for his first title defense.

That fight is expected to take place later this year, and could potentially be located in Topuria’s native Spain, Shaun Al-Shatti reported for MMA Fighting.