Max Holloway of Waianae announces a permanent move to a new weight class

Waianae’s Max Holloway is leaving the featherweight division.

In one video from his personal YouTube channel Released Saturday, Holloway announced that he plans to move up from the 145-pound weight class to the lightweight division (155 pounds).

All the latest sports news from Hawaii’s sports station

Holloway is considered one of the UFC’s greatest ever in the featherweight division. From January 4, 2014 to July 27, 2019, he won 14 consecutive fights at 145, the last five of which were for the title.

On October 26 Holloway lost via knockout to Ilia Topuria in the UFC featherweight title fight, which also served as the main event of UFC 308. It was the first knockout loss of his career.

“I can honestly say I think I’m done at 145,” Holloway said in his video. “We’re just getting older, I’ll be 33 (in December). … This is a new chapter. This is where we start, this is where we start and I’m super excited about it.”

Holloway joked that his latest weight loss Up to 145 went smoothly, he had to give up the ramen, which he did not like. He also said the cut is taking a toll on his body even though he is doing well.

“Never say never, but I can honestly look you guys in the eye and say I’ll probably never go back to (featherweight),” he said. “I loved what I did, I did what I did, I did what I was there to do. I worked my way back, I clawed my way back to the championship fight multiple times.

With a career record in mixed martial arts of 26-8, including 22-8 in the UFC, only two of Holloway’s fights in the UFC have taken place outside the featherweight division. The first was for the UFC’s interim lightweight title, a unanimous decision loss to Dustin Poirier in April 2019.

Five years later, Holloway defeated Justin Gaethje in a thrilling last-second knockout at UFC 300 in April in a lightweight bout, creating one of the most exciting moments in the history of the sport.

Holloway is the only UFC fighter ranked in multiple divisions. He is currently the No. 2 featherweight and No. 5 lightweight. He preferred to return to the octagon during the UFC’s International Fight Week event in the summer of 2025, which takes place annually in Las Vegas.

“The blessed express is still on its way,” Holloway said at the end of his video. ‘Make sure you get your tickets. Make sure you get a place. Buckle up, ’cause we’re rolling, baby. I’ll see you guys later.”

For the latest news, weather, sports and streaming video, visit KHON2.