UFC 236: Max Holloway is Targeting #1 P4P Spot; What Could Win Tonight Mean?

Max Holloway has repeatedly said he wants to become the undisputed, greatest fighter on the planet. So, if he becomes the UFC’s latest champ-champ tonight at UFC 236, what will it do for “Blessed” in that respect?

Holloway is moving up from featherweight tonight to challenge Dustin Poirier for the interim lightweight title. If the Hawaiian star wins the fight, Holloway will extend his winning streak to 14, and as noted above, he’ll be holding two UFC belts. A victory will almost certainly advance Holloway to a fight with the undisputed, lightweight king, Khabib Nurmagomedov.

While discussing Holloway’s plans for the future recently, the ridiculously, talented fighter said this (quotes via MMA Junkie):

“You can just feel it,” Holloway said. “We’re on the cusp of something right now. Something huge is going to happen and I live for these moments. Every single fight the fights get bigger and bigger and bigger and I show up in a different way. That’s what I live for. You’ve got to live for this moment, live for this opportunity.”

“I’m No. 4-ranked pound-for-pound in the world according to the UFC and there’s three guys in front of me. One of them is a ’55-pounder (Nurmagomedov), one of them is a 205 (Jon Jones) and one of them is my good friend ‘DC’ (Daniel Cormier), and they all can get it. It is what it is.”

The last bit here about Jones and Cormier is Holloway at his finest, and yes, we all know those fights aren’t going to happen. But, what will a victory tonight over Poirier do for Holloway’s standing in the sport? And will it advance him up the P4P ranks?

Well, if Holloway does defeat Poirier and adds the interim lightweight title to his resume, of course it will raise the 27-year-old’s stock. Not only because he’ll make history in joining the rare club of champ-champs, but because he will have defeated one of the best lightweights in MMA. It will serve notice that Holloway is a true, pound-for-pound contender, and it could very well end his run at 145.

But, will a win move Holloway up the P4P ranks right now? It might. But probably not.

A victory would demonstrate that Holloway’s a top tier fighter in two divisions, which is certainly in keeping with the whole concept of “pound-for-pound”. That said, he would need to move past Nurmagomedov, a fighter who has never lost.

UFC 236 will take place in Atlanta, Georgia.