Max Holloway Willing to Serve as Alternate to Face Ferguson or Nurmagomedov at UFC 223

UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway has stated that his future might be at 155 pounds.

Well it seems he may be willing to jump start that conversation if the UFC just so happens to need a challenger for the lightweight title if disaster strikes the upcoming main event fight between interim champion Tony Ferguson and No. 1 ranked contender Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Last week at the UFC 222/UFC 223 pre-fight press conference, UFC president Dana White was asked if the promotion had a back up plan in place in case either Ferguson or Nurmagomedov couldn’t fight on April 7.

Sadly the matchup between the two top ranked lightweights has been put together on three previous occasions but Ferguson and Nurmagomedov have still never clashed.

Because the fight just came together a few days earlier, White couldn’t offer any alternate plans should Ferguson or Nurmagomedov not make it to their fight at UFC 223 but that’s when Holloway threw his name in the ring as a possible replacement.

“You’ve got a 45-pound champion that will gladly take that spot after March 3,” Holloway said.

Right now, Holloway is focused on his own title fight against Frankie Edgar at UFC 222, but he’s hinted numerous times in the past that he would love the chance to become a two-division champion by eventually testing the waters at 155 pounds.

From the sound of things, Holloway might just make that call to the UFC president should he get past Edgar in March to at least serve as a possible replacement if the promotion needs him a month later.

“I’m a big boy for 45. 55’s not that far away,” Holloway said with a smile on his face. “If you want to be the best, you’ve got the beat the best and the best is “Blessed” baby. Come see me.”