"I'll tell you what, Dana White. I want to be the No. 1 pound-for-pound. If there are guys at 155lbs then let's do it."
UFC president Dana White was clearly listening, and nodding in agreement.
Not long after Max Holloway retained his featherweight belt by stopping Brian Ortega in the final round of the UFC 231 main event, White was telling reporters he wants the Hawaiian up in the 155lbs division.
Holloway dismantled the previously unbeaten Ortega and finished his opponent off with a barrage in the fifth and final round, at Toronto's Scotia-bank Arena.
He then told Joe Rogan that he was after the No.1 pound-for-pound ranking and wanted to achieve that by proving he can win belts in more than one division. No.1 lightweight belt contender Tony Ferguson is keen to welcome him to the division if his mooted title shot against Khabib Nurmagomedov falls through.
https://twitter.com/TonyFergusonXT/status/1071647349309460480
In the post-fight press conference, White was unequivocal when asked if Holloway, who has recently struggled with the 145lb weight-cut, should step up a division.
"Honestly, listen, Max is a grown man and I'd like to talk, but I'd like to see Max go to 155 now. The guy is 27 and going on 28 years old. He's in the prime of his life, has never looked better, continues to improve with every single fight that he is in, and I think he has done everything he can do at 145.
"Why keep cutting that weight? I think there are some big things for him at 155."
Run it back
It has now been 63 months since Holloway has lost a fight. He has won 13 straight since his August 2013 defeat to Conor McGregor in Boston.
Should 'Blessed' step up, he will be immediately in the title picture so may yet get an opportunity to avenge that TD Gardens points loss to 'The Notorious'.
"If Holloway goes to 155," White added, "every guy in the top five is a fun fight."
Asked specifically about 'running that fight back' with McGregor, White responded, "Yeah.
"There's a lot of fights for him at that weight. Every guy in that top five is an interesting, exciting fight for Holloway. That's why I say there are bigger and better things for him at 155."
Nurmagomedov. Ferguson. McGregor. Poirier. Lee. Barboza. Gaethje. Pettis, Iaquinta. Diaz.
Add Holloway to that mix and we are talking serious business.
https://youtu.be/k1i0WgZp0M8
YouTube: Fight Network
2019 should be fun!
