5 fights that could be next for Max Holloway

Max Holloway is ranked No.1 at featherweight

Last Saturday, Max Holloway lost to Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 276 via a one-sided unanimous decision. Holloway has now lost all three fights against the current champion, putting him in an interesting position moving forward.

I'm still up 2-0 on knockdowns for trilogy. Prob gonna need a 4th to settle this. 😂 Just playing. Congrats to my brother @alexvolkanovski . Go get that 55 strap. You earned the shot. You're #1 P4P right now. https://t.co/5lUNWZVbRA

He could continue to compete at featherweight but will now face a very long road back to title contention as long as Alexander Volkanovski holds the belt. The UFC might also be cautious to match up Holloway with top contenders at 145 lbs given there is a lack of fresh contenders in that division.

Instead, he may opt to move up to lightweight, which would create a wealth of fun new match-ups for him. It could also mean he'd have a shorter route to the title than he would at 145 lbs. Whatever he chooses to do next, you can be sure that his loyal army of supporters will continue to back him.

Here are five fights that could be next for Max 'Blessed' Holloway:

#5. Max Holloway vs. Arnold Allen

Arnold Allen is ranked at no. 5 at featherweight

The featherweight division is facing a lack of fresh title contenders. Given Max Holloway hasn't been able to win back his belt, it could now be time to give other lower-profile athletes the chance to prove they deserve a title shot. Arnold Allen seems like a prime candidate for this type of opportunity.

Longest Win Streaks in UFC Featherweight History:

1️⃣ 3️⃣ Max Holloway
9️⃣ Arnold Allen
8️⃣ Alexander Volkanovski
7️⃣ Jose Aldo
7️⃣ Conor McGregor
7️⃣ Denis Bermudez
7️⃣ Giga Chikadze

@Arnoldbfa secures the biggest win of his career and is in ELITE company! 🇬🇧

#UFCLondon https://t.co/IbNyPvvMpl

Allen is on an 11-fight win streak and has now broken into the top five in the division. Admittedly, matching him up with as talented a fighter as Max Holloway does risk ruining the momentum of a potential new contender. If the Brit was to win, however, the UFC could create a new star ready to fight for the belt.

On top of that, Josh Emmett is also riding a lengthy win streak and is higher in the rankings, so it wouldn't be a disaster for the UFC if Holloway won. The fight could be huge for the division and would be electric if contested in London. However, the featherweight division desperately needs fresh blood so the UFC may not risk it.