Holloway rules out bareknuckle boxing, open to Oliveira rematch

Max Holloway, the UFC's current BMF champion, said he will not pursue a post‑UFC career in bareknuckle boxing and dismissed a recent callout from featherweight Jean Silva while also leaving open the possibility of a rematch with former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira. Holloway made the comments during a livestream this month as he recovers from the July bout in which he defended the BMF title against Dustin Poirier, Poirier's final professional fight.

Holloway told viewers he has no interest in joining Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship after his MMA career ends. "I ain't ever going to bareknuckle fighting. When I'm retired, I'm retired," he said, adding that he might consider a conventional boxing match but would not compete without gloves. His remarks echoed his broader criticism of combat formats he described as unnecessarily risky, including the organized slap competitions that have attracted attention in recent years.

On the prospect of new opponents, Holloway reacted sharply to a callout from Jean Silva, a featherweight who recently lost to Diego Lopes. Holloway dismissed Silva's challenge as not serious, saying on the stream that he would not take it seriously given...