“Does that make Max the No. 1 contender?” – Ex-UFC champion discusses what’s next for Max Holloway should he defeat Justin Gaethje

Michael Bisping is of the opinion that if Max Holloway manages to defeat Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, he could potentially earn the position of No.1 contender for Islam Makhachev’s lightweight championship title.

On April 13, Holloway and Gaethje will face each other in a highly anticipated fight for the symbolic BMF title. The bout has already gained recognition as a potential Fight of the Year candidate. This will also mark ‘Blessed’s’ return to the lightweight division, following his previous defeat against Dustin Poirier in 2019.

Heading into the upcoming match, both the Hawaiian native and ‘The Highlight’ are in top form, having secured consecutive victories in 2023. Holloway emerged victorious over Arnold Allen and ‘The Korean Zombie’, while Gaethje claimed wins against Rafael Fiziev and Poirier, earning himself the BMF title from ‘The Diamond’.

Although both men have legitimate claims to challenge for the gold in their respective divisions, Bisping is of the opinion that their UFC 300 bout could have significant consequences.

During a discussion on his YouTube channel, ‘The Count’ hinted at the possibility of Holloway becoming a double champion, suggesting that a victory over Gaethje could position the 32-year-old as the top contender in both the featherweight and lightweight divisions. He remarked:

“On merit, Justin Gaethje is the No. 1 contender but we see how these things play out. If Justin loses to Max, does that make Max the No. 1 contender?…When you look at this on paper and break it down, there is a path to victory for Max Holloway.”

Watch Bisping’s remarks at the 1:25 mark below:

Max Holloway Calls Out Islam Makhachev for Next Fight After Potential Win Against Justin Gaethje at UFC 300

Max Holloway has recently shared his thoughts on a possible lightweight championship fight against Islam Makhachev in the future.

Currently, ‘Blessed’ is getting ready for his second attempt at 155 pounds as he takes on Justin Gaethje for the symbolic BMF title at the end of this month. While most fans believe this lightweight fight to be a one-time event, Holloway has hinted that he may continue competing in this division if he emerges victorious on April 13.

During a recent interview with Kevin Iole, Holloway acknowledged that there are many thrilling fights ahead for him, including a possible title match against Makhachev.

“He said:”

“I’m in a situation, I’m in a place where first things first is [Justin] Gaethje but if I can go out there and get my hand raised [at UFC 300] like we plan on doing, there’s a lot of fights that can be there for us. And one of them being the [155-pound] champ, which I think would be a fun one.”

You can watch Max Holloway’s comments here at the 3:57 mark.