Max Holloway hopes to ‘mimic’ Alex Pereira’s two-division champion success

Max Holloway has completed all of it at 145 kilos and he’s no much less formidable in relation to his expectations within the light-weight division.

“Blessed” lately made it official that he plans to maneuver up in weight and be a part of the UFC’s 155-pound roster following a 12-year run that noticed him compete primarily as a featherweight and reign as that division’s champion from 2017 to 2019. Holloway had an opportunity to regain the featherweight title this previous October at UFC 308, however misplaced to Ilia Topuria, who handed Holloway his first-ever knockout loss.

Shifting from one deep division to a different, Holloway hopes to observe within the footsteps of sunshine heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, who claimed the UFC middleweight title from rival Israel Adesanya in simply his fourth combat for the promotion. He dropped the belt again to Adesanya in a direct rematch, however two fights later he gained a vacant mild heavyweight title by defeating Jiri Prochazka.

Holloway referred to as Pereira an inspiration throughout a latest Kick stream (h/t Championship Rounds):

“155, can’t wait,” Holloway mentioned. “All I do know is, we noticed Alex Pereira get completed [by Adesanya], proper? Subsequent combat he fought for a No. 1 contender spot. Fought for the title and he’s on a title run proper now, a spectacular title run. Let’s mimic it. Let’s do it.”

Since successful the sunshine heavyweight title, Pereira has efficiently defended it thrice in 2024, making him one of many UFC’s most beneficial gamers. A former kickboxing champion, the 37-year-old Pereira nonetheless has loads of massive fights forward with No. 1 contender Magomed Ankalaev respiratory down his neck and all-time nice Jon Jones stating his choice could be to combat Pereira ought to he proceed competing after his bout with Stipe Miocic at UFC 309.

Suffice to say, if the light-weight chapter of Holloway’s profession is something near how Pereira reinvented himself, he’ll be greater than happy.

“I get inspiration in that,” Holloway mentioned. “He’s a beast.”