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Max Holloway Sends a Clear Message to Ilia Topuria After His UFC 318 Victory

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Prince Horton | Last updated Jul 20, 2025 9:01 PM ET

A dominant win at UFC 318 sets the stage for a potential high-stakes rematch.

It was an emotional night at UFC 318, as fans witnessed the farewell fight of a true legend. Dustin Poirier closed out his storied career in front of a roaring hometown crowd in New Orleans, but the night belonged to Max Holloway. In their trilogy bout, Holloway avenged his loss from UFC 236 in emphatic fashion, silencing the crowd and reminding everyone that his story is far from over. But even in a night filled with history, Holloway’s post-fight comments hinted that the chapter ahead could be just as compelling.

In a post-fight interview with Carlos Contreras Legaspi, captured by Championship Rounds, Holloway was asked point-blank about running it back with Ilia Topuria.

His response was raw: ‘For doing what he did to me. The first man to [knock me out]. Of course I want revenge.’ Those words quickly ignited speculation about what’s next for the former champion.

Max Holloway is seeking revenge against Ilia Topuria

“For doing what he did to me. The first man to [knock me out]. Of course I want revenge.”

@CCLegaspi #UFC318 pic.twitter.com/8Cx5yYacoP
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 20, 2025

Interestingly, Holloway wasn’t shy about Topuria during fight week either. While acknowledging the Spaniard’s recent success, he also downplayed the streak: ‘He has names and he beat the names — you can’t deny that,’ Holloway said.

‘It just sucks with everything that was going on with that Volk fight… people are just looking at the name and not the record. Charles was on a 1-fight win streak. At the end of the day, they’re just names. UFC is lining them up and he’s just knocking them down.’

With a decisive win over Poirier and a move toward the lightweight mix, a Holloway-Topuria rematch is definitely an option. It’s personal, it’s marketable, and it could settle one of the most shocking results in recent UFC history. If the UFC wants a fight fans will rally behind, this is the one.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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