Who Should Challenge Max Holloway for the BMF Title Next?

Having been freshly recertified as UFC’s BMF (that’s ‘Baddest Mother Well You Know’) after a five-round unanimous decision over the now-retired Dustin Poirier at UFC 318, Max Holloway awaits his next assignment.

Holloway did prevail as the tepid wagering favorite as per UFC fight odds in the marquee event at New Orleans; the UFC hadn’t visited NOLA in a decade.

Thirty-four-year-old Hawaiian Holloway was back in the win column (scores of 48-47, 49-46, 49-46) after losing (via third-round knockout) to Ilia Topuria at UFC 308. With a record now at 27-8, he’s now 6-2 in his last eight. It was at UFC 300 where Holloway captured the BMF belt. 

So, who’s next?

There’s no definite opponent as of this writing, at least according to UFC boss Dana White. That doesn’t mean foes are hard to find, even though some observers may consider BMF a ‘gimmick’ title and nothing more.

Perhaps a rematch with Topuria, who, same as Holloway, does not have a confirmed next match.

Maybe Charles Oliveira, whom Holloway quickly defeated in a UFC Fight Night event in Canada (Saskatchewan, to be exact). Another option is Dan Hooker, considered to be a legit contender. 

Here’s a bit of a primer on Max Holloway, along with some notes on the UFC schedule…    

Did Max Holloway Fight Khabib?

UFC rumors were in full force ahead of UFC 223 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Max Holloway was supposed to be a late-in-the-week replacement to face Khabib Nurmagomedov. The latter was originally set to take on Tony Ferguson, who bowed out with an injured knee. 

However, Holloway-Nurmagomedov was derailed by the New York State Athletic Commission, citing ‘unfitness’ on the part of Holloway. There were apparently concerns about Holloway’s weight, cutting him as a late substitute.

So, the answer to the question posed in the headline is ‘no,’  Holloway hasn’t fought Khabib. 

How Many Times Did Max Holloway Fight Dustin Poirier?

Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier completed their own personal trilogy in New Orleans. UFC fights had Poirier winning (unanimous decision) at UFC 236 (Atlanta) in 2019, along with a first-round submission way back at UFC 143 (Las Vegas) in 2012.

So, the results were 2-1 in favor of Poirier, who’s now retired.

Considering it took 13 years to complete this ‘trifecta’ is a tribute to the longevity of both fighters.  

Does BetUS Offer Constant Updates on UFC Fights’ Betting Lines?

While UFC news is the place to see who’s fighting whom, BetUS is the go-to site to find the latest UFC fights odds ahead of every numbered event, as well as any Fight Night program. 

There’s UFC 319 (August in Chicago), UFC 320 (early October in Las Vegas), and UFC 321 (late October in the United Arab Emirates). The next UFC Fight Night is this week (July 26th) in the United Arab Emirates.

UFC 319’s ledger includes Khamzat Chimaev (-185) against Dricus Du Plessis (+160) in a middleweight title bout.  

Remember the entire board of  UFC fight odds is fluid, thus subject to change.  

Any Final Thoughts?

While there are those fans and observers who may mock the ‘contrived’ title of BMF, that doesn’t mean champion Max Holloway isn’t one of the more intriguing figures in UFC.

His next opponent, currently TBD, is one of the bigger storylines as of this writing. 

Those who wager on UFC would be wise to bookmark BetUS to find the latest odds.