Max Holloway takes subtle dig at Paddy Pimblett as he questions UFC rankings

Holloway currently sits fourth in the lightweight division, trailing Oliveira, Arman Tsarukyan, and former champion Islam Makhachev.

And despite being ranked ahead of Justin Gaethje, he is not expected to get a rematch with Topuria, which led him to take issue with the current rankings, specifically pointing out Pimblett’s recent rise despite his inactivity.

“I wouldn’t even look at the rankings. UFC is going to do what UFC does. You need to have spectacular fights. You need to get your name out there.

“I felt like after the last one [a win over Dustin Poirier in July], maybe we could have got a shot, but there’s Justin (Gaethje), there’s Arman (Tsarukyan) – they got big fights coming up. And then I know UFC loves drama, and there’s drama there with Paddy (Pimblett),” he said to Uncrowned.

Max Holloway pushing for Charles Oliveira rematch

Following Oliveira’s callout after his win over Mateusz Gamrot earlier this month, Holloway has shown plenty of interest in the match-up.

Their first meeting came during their featherweight days at an event in Saskatoon, ending in anticlimactic fashion during the opening round.

“That’s the fight I want. That’s a fight a lot of people want to see. We have history. There aren’t too many people right now that people are considering BMFs. But on that very short list, Charles Oliveira is one of them.”