Dana White isn’t rushing into Max Holloway’s next move after UFC Fight Night 197 main event, but all signs point to a trilogy with Alexander Volkanovski.
After Holloway (23-6 MMA, 19-6 UFC) took out another featherweight contender on Saturday with a unanimous decision win over Yair Rodriguez (13-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, immediately discussion was directed toward another encounter with Volkanovski.
Volkanovski already holds two wins over Holloway, but both – and especially the latter – were controversial decisions. It’s clear Holloway is the next best fighter to the champ, though, so White doesn’t see many ways around a third fight.
“It’s one of those things – it was razor thin, (Holloway) just comes in and puts on a performance like this,” White told MMA Junkie and other reporters post-fight at UFC Fight Night 197. “This is just a guy that Volkanovski’s going to have to just him out of the way and do it again.”
Holloway expressed during his octagon interview with Michael Bisping that he’s not tying himself to one option going forward. He’s brought up Conor McGregor a lot during fight week, and has got a response out of the Irishman, who beat him by unanimous decision in August 2014.
White isn’t interested in a McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) fight at the time being, though, mainly because the former two-division UFC champ is recovering from his broken leg suffered in a defeat to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July.
“I don’t know what’s next for Max, but it does make sense to see him and Volkanovski again,” White said. “Conor’s not even – Conor’s still hurt. To even talk about Conor is silly.”
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