Max Holloway: 'That’s the Fight I Want'

Holloway: “We’ve got history, and he’s one of the real BMFs”

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

Holloway referenced their strange first meeting in 2015, which ended just 99 seconds in when Oliveira suffered a mysterious throat injury that forced an abrupt stoppage. Holloway has always maintained that no structural damage was ever officially confirmed.

“Whenever people bring up our first fight, they say it ended because of an injury,” Holloway said. “If you guys really did your research, nothing was ever found. So let’s go figure it out now.”

That 2015 bout in Saskatoon, Canada, came when both fighters were rising prospects. Holloway (26-8) went on to become a featherweight legend — defeating the likes of Anthony Pettis, José Aldo, and Brian Ortega, and cementing his status with classic wars against Alexander Volkanovski and Dustin Poirier.

Oliveira (35-10, 1 NC) likewise carved out his legacy as one of the UFC’s all-time finishers, claiming the lightweight crown in 2021 and amassing records for most submissions (16) and most finishes (20) in UFC history.

Their careers have since diverged and converged across two divisions, making a rematch under the “BMF” banner a natural full-circle moment.

Holloway: Rankings make “no sense,” but the fight does

Holloway, now targeting a run at lightweight, says defeating Oliveira would bolster his case for another shot at gold potentially against current 155-pound king Ilia Topuria, who beat Holloway at featherweight in 2024.

“With a win over Charles, that’s a top-five guy that gets me closer to a title shot,” Holloway said. “But the rankings? They’re all over the place. I’m ranked higher pound-for-pound than guys who are ahead of me in my own division. It makes no sense.”

The Hawaiian veteran shrugged off the confusion with characteristic calm:

“UFC’s gonna do what UFC does. You just need to have spectacular fights. Charles fits that perfectly.”

The BMF factor

Holloway, who captured the BMF belt in an instant-classic knockout over Poirier at UFC 300, says the Oliveira matchup embodies what the symbolic title represents.

“He’s been through wars, he’s respected, and he’s a former champ,” Holloway said. “That’s what being a BMF is about. So, you tell me I get to defend it against him? Let’s dance.”

Oliveira’s own résumé defined by toughness, comebacks, and chaos makes him a fitting foil. Fans have clamored for a rematch that could serve as both a violent chess match and a legacy-defining moment for two of the UFC’s most battle-tested stars.