One former fighter thinks Max Holloway should be made to go through Paddy Pimblett after UFC 318 as he looks to secure a rematch with Ilia Topuria.
Holloway’s ongoing ambitions of two-division glory received a sizable boost in Saturday’s pay-per-view main event, when he played spoiler in a big night for the Louisianan crowd.
At New Orleans’ Smoothie King Center, home favorite Dustin Poirier retired after a defeat to Holloway in their trilogy for the Hawaiian’s symbolic BMF title. The result was crucial for Holloway, who has insisted that, unlike ‘The Diamond’, his career is far from its end.
After Ilia Topuria knocked Holloway out last year to send ‘Blessed’ back to lightweight, the Spaniard went up himself and captured the 155-pound crown in June. With that, Holloway’s sights are back on ‘El Matador’ in a division he now feels more at home in.
But while some have pitched that rematch immediately after UFC 318, one UFC legend has a different matchup in mind.
Chael Sonnen pitches Max Holloway vs. Paddy Pimblett after UFC 318
Among those present in New Orleans for Poirier’s farewell fight at UFC 318 was former fighter Chael Sonnen, who once again served as an analyst on the ESPN desk for the promotion’s latest PPV.
In the aftermath of Holloway’s triumph, ‘The Bad Guy’ looked ahead to what could lie in his future after he became the first man to ever successfully defend the BMF title.
Having seemingly reached his conclusion on the Hawaiian’s next fight, Sonnen took to X and suggested a showdown between Holloway and rising lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett.
“Max v Paddy,” Sonnen wrote.
Pimblett has been among those campaigning for the first shot at unseating Topuria, whom he’s shared a heated rivalry with for years.
In addition to Arman Tsarukyan and Justin Gaethje, the Scouser seemingly now has Holloway to contend with in the title picture at 155 pounds.
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Fans react to Chael Sonnen’s matchmaking, pitch other opponents for Max Holloway
Sonnen’s post received a mixed reaction.
Plenty of fans took to the comment section to either support the idea of Holloway facing Pimblett or to pitch alternatives.
A number of matchups came up, with even Conor McGregor getting a surprise look-in.
“No, Paddy v Ilia. Max vs Conor (McGregor) at the White House.”
“Good fight, winner gets to get KO’d by Ilia.”
“No, Gaethje vs Paddy and Ilia vs Tsarukyan.”
“Nah, Max vs Conor at the White House for the BMF.”
“No, it’s either Max vs Topuria or Paddy vs Topuria.”
“Arman vs Topuria, Gaethje vs Paddy, Max vs Hooker, Ruffy vs Dariush.”