Sean O’Malley sees various options for BMF champion Max Holloway’s next fight.
Holloway (27-8 MMA, 23- 8 UFC) became the first fighter to retain the BMF belt when he outlasted the retiring Dustin Poirier in Saturday’s UFC 318 headliner at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
“Wow, I’m so glad neither of them got knocked out,” O’Malley said while watching Holloway vs. Poirier on his YouTube channel. “I thought it was the perfect way to end it. I mean, obviously for Dustin he wanted to get the win there, but God, that was such a sick fight.
“Max Holloway officially at 155 (pounds), I love Max at 155. So, who’s next for Holloway at 155? There’s Arman Tsarukyan. Imagine Max vs. Charles (Oliveira)? That would be a f*cking sweet fight at 155. Ooh, Paddy (Pimblett) vs. Max Holloway at 155.”
Holloway wants to run things back with UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, who knocked him out in their featherweight title fight at UFC 308. Topuria was the first to finish Holloway by strikes. Dana White is open to the rematch, and so is O’Malley.
“Max vs. Ilia at 155? I mean, that’s there,” O’Malley added. “I don’t know. Max vs. Ilia is always a sick fight.”
Former UFC bantamweight champion O’Malley concluded by praising Poirier (30-10 MMA, 22-9 UFC) for his career.
“Dustin Poirier retirement fight, absolute legend,” O’Malley said. “Super inspiring to see his career play out, the wins, the losses. He went up, he went down, he had some of the biggest fights with Conor McGregor. Very inspirational fella.”
