Former UFC champions Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo recently praised Max Holloway‘s performance at UFC 318. He secured a unanimous decision win over Dustin Poirier, avenging his two previous losses, and retained his BMF title.
The main event marked Poirier’s retirement bout, adding more emotions to the already high-stakes matchup. Blessed proved that he belongs in the lightweight division and is inching closer to a title shot.
Usman and Cejudo shared their thoughts on Pound 4 Pound, calling Holloway’s resurgence both impressive and surprising.
“[Holloway] is only 33, crazy,” Usman said. “He’s only really getting in the prime and that’s scary.”
Cejudo agreed, highlighting Holloway’s aggressiveness and high volume combinations during the fight.
“[Holloway] just kind of brought the fight a little bit more,” Cejudo said. “He was a little bit more diverse with the striking, he was a little more assertive than Poirier. Brought a lot of that pressure, was able to take a lot of Poirier’s shots.”
Usman and Cejudo Discuss Benefits of Max Holloway’s Lightweight Move
Usman and Cejudo also discussed the long-term benefits of Holloway’s move to lightweight at this stage of his career. After a legendary stint at featherweight, Blessed decided to fight at lightweight permanently—eliminating the brutal weight cut to 145-pounds.
Usman pointed out how the extra weight benefits the BMF title holder’s durability and high fight IQ.
“That 10 extra pounds really means a lot,” Usman said. “Holloway still has his speed, is ultra intelligent when it comes to fighting…I think him staying at lightweight, that’s where he should be.”
Cejudo emphasized that Holloway looked rejuvenated in the octagon and was more durable against a striker like Poirier.
“Max had this enthusiasm to him that just changed the trajectory of the fight. I just felt like that younger, the more assertive guy ended up getting the victory.”
What Does Max Holloway’s Move Mean for the Lightweight Division?
With his win at UFC 318, Holloway now stands as a major threat in the race for a lightweight title shot. He entered the fight ranked No.5 and handed No,6 ranked Poirier a decisive loss.
During his post-fight interview, Holloway called out lightweight champion Ilia Topuria for a rematch—this time at lightweight.
Although Holloway lost to Topuria in a featherweight title fight, the result didn’t affect his status at lightweight. A potential rematch could be much bigger than their featherweight encounter, especially after their most recent wins.
Before UFC 318, Holloway defeated Justin Gaethje with a last-second knockout at UFC 300. That win earned him the BMF title and propelled him into championship talks at both lightweight and featherweight.
His win also opened up new possibilities at lightweight, as he proved he could defeat a top contender. The lightweight division has since gone through a shake-up after Holloway and Topuria’s title wins.
Dana White told reporters during his UFC 318 post-event press conference that there are plenty of exciting options for Blessed. He said that those options could even include his BMF title.
“I think he’s in a great position right now.” Dana White said. “He just defended that BMF title…Anything is possible for Max right now.”
Kamaru Usman & Henry Cejudo React to Max Holloway’s Win Over Dustin Poirier