UFC President Dana White made headlines at the UFC 318 post-event press conference when he endorsed the idea of featherweight champion Ilia Topuria challenging Max Holloway for the BMF title at lightweight. When asked directly if Topuria had done enough to earn a shot at both the BMF and lightweight titles simultaneously, White gave an emphatic response:
“Yes, I do.”
The comment came following an exceptional night in New Orleans where Holloway successfully defended his BMF title against Dustin Poirier in the main event. The bout lived up to expectations, with both competitors delivering the kind of performance that exemplifies the “Baddest Mother F*****” championship. Holloway’s win was highlighted by his signature last-ten-seconds moment—pointing to the ground and engaging Poirier in a final exchange that had White and his team excited rather than concerned.
“Max is like the only guy that actually wants to do that and it’s one of the million reasons why people love him,” White said about Holloway’s willingness to engage in those dramatic final moments.
The potential matchup between Topuria and Holloway presents an intriguing scenario for the UFC. Topuria, the current featherweight champion, has been making waves with his performances and apparently caught White’s attention as someone ready for bigger challenges. Meanwhile, Holloway finds himself in what White described as
“a great position right now”
after defending the BMF title and maintaining his ranking as the fourth-best lightweight in the world.
White noted the unique situation Holloway faces, explaining that
“the champion of his division is the guy he lost to in the other division,”
referring to his previous losses to Topuria at featherweight. This creates an interesting dynamic where both competitors could potentially meet in the middle at lightweight for the BMF belt.
The BMF championship has become one of the UFC’s most coveted prizes, representing not just skill but the spirit that fans admire most. White emphasized that
“anything is possible for Max right now”
following his latest defense, suggesting the promotion is open to creative matchmaking involving the title.
When asked about other potential BMF bouts, including a possible Max Holloway versus Charles Oliveira match, White remained open-minded, stating
“Anything’s possible. I like his idea.”
He highlighted the depth of the lightweight division, noting there are
“so many incredible matchups that you can do”
with the current roster of contenders.
The endorsement of Topuria as a worthy challenger for Holloway‘s BMF title signals the UFC’s willingness to create compelling cross-divisional matchups that capture fan imagination. With both athletes coming off impressive performances and White’s explicit backing, this potential superfight could become reality sooner than expected.
