Max Holloway responds to Justin Gaethje’s comments about potential rematch after beating Ilia Topuria at UFC White House

Max Holloway has responded with humor to Justin Gaethje's recent comments about a potential future rematch, brushing off the lightweight champion's peculiar MMA math. Gaethje suggested that his dominant victory over Ilia Topuria at the UFC White House event somehow evened the score with Holloway, despite their previous encounter ending in a spectacular knockout loss for Gaethje at UFC 300—one that Holloway himself delivered with a brutal finish in the fight's final second.

Holloway found the logic amusing. "I saw [Justin Gaethje] saying, too, and I had no idea about if you [get a win] somebody [else], you beat them," Holloway told MMA Fighting. "Technically, I beat Conor McGregor because I bust Dustin [Poirier], if that's what he's saying." The featherweight contender acknowledged the absurdity while keeping his focus on the immediate task at hand: facing Conor McGregor at UFC 329.

Despite the joking tone, Holloway had nothing but respect for Gaethje's upset victory over Topuria. He expressed surprise that so many observers had counted Gaethje out entirely, praising the champion's execution and composure. "He went out there, he looked good, he stuck to his game plan. He fought really smart. He took calculated risks. It paid off," Holloway said, even commending Gaethje for surviving a damaging body shot.

While Holloway remains locked in on his McGregor bout scheduled for July 11, he's aware that a convincing victory could set the stage for that undisputed lightweight title clash with Gaethje. "At the end of the day, that fight of course it's right there," Holloway acknowledged. "It's dangling right in front of him. I'm focused on doing what I've got to do, get my hand raised in great fashion come July 11. Whatever way the UFC wants to go, we go."