5 fights that could be next for Max Holloway

#4. Max Holloway vs. Tony Ferguson

Tony Ferguson is ranked No. 9 at lightweight

Perhaps Max Holloway will now move up to lightweight given he could now face a long road back to the featherweight belt. If he were to do so, Tony Ferguson could be a suitable opponent for the former 145-pound champion. A former interim champion himself, Ferguson may have struggled recently but remains in the top 10.

Ferguson has now lost four in a row but he has faced elite fighters during this stretch. While he might be better served by taking a step down in level of competition, if he continues to fight big names in the sport, this fight would be ideal. Holloway moving up to face a lightweight veteran would be very interesting.

Holloway would have the opportunity to take advantage of Ferguson's poor form and get back on track in a new division. As for Ferguson, he would also get the chance to bounce back and might like his chances against a fighter who lost his only UFC bout at lightweight.

---

#3. Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier II

Dustin Poirier is ranked no. 2 at lightweight

Max Holloway came up against Dustin Poirier for the interim UFC lightweight championship in April 2019. On that occasion, Poirier defeated Holloway via unanimous decision in a very entertaining back-and-forth bout. With both men coming off title fight losses, maybe now is the time to run this one back.

Poirier has been vocal about wanting to be active and take on some of the big names in the sport. Holloway remains one of the biggest names on the roster and so could be a great alternative if fights with the likes of Nate Diaz don't come to fruition.

Admittedly, this would be a tough test for Holloway if he were to move up to 155 lbs. However, Poirier is such an established star that the Hawaiian fighter may not lose too much stock with a defeat. A win would make him an immediate title contender whilst a competitive loss could still see him become a top ten lightweight.