The competition with Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 showed that Max Holloway was fully capable of playing in the Lightweight weight class. He played on the basis, and won with a knock-out blow in the last second of the match. That victory helped Max Holloway be ranked 9 in the Lightweight weight class.
When asked about the possibility that Max Holloway may soon be arranged with a belt match in the Lightweight weight class, the reigning champion Islam Makhachev said: “I am not afraid to confront him. However, Holloway needs to show more in this weight class. At least he needs to defeat some rivals in the first group.”
The first group boxers in the Lightweight weight class are mentioned by Islam Makhachev including Arman Tsarukyan, Charles Oliveira and Mateusz Gamrot. Dustin Poirier, who prepares a belt with Makhachev, is also a very strong opponent. Poirier won Holloway when the boxer ranked Lightweight.
Another way can help Max Holloway challenge the Lightweight Champion to win the belt in Featherweight. That scenario would happen if Holloway defeated the reigning champion Ilia Topuria, who had just won the belt from Alexander Volkanovski.
On the side of Makhachev, he did not exclude the intention to put on Welterweight in the near future. He shared: “I hope I can compete in another weight class.