Max Holloway Will Move Up To Fight For the Interim Lightweight Title At UFC 236

After proving he can hang with the best featherweight fighters in the world, the division’s current champion, Max Holloway, is moving up to lightweight to fight for the interim title against Dustin Poirier at UFC 236 on April 13 in Atlanta, the UFC announced through ESPN.

UFC president Dana White previously said lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov couldn’t just sit on the title for a year, and he made good on his word, announcing the interim title fight on Friday.

Nurmagomedov is currently serving a nine-month suspension for the chaos that erupted after his UFC 229 win over Conor McGregor. Nurmagomedov could have returned in time for the April 13 card had he filmed an anti-bullying message in Nevada, per ESPN, but he didn’t follow through with that requirement. Nurmagomedov announced that he’d sit out a full year as a show of unity with his teammate and cousin who were also suspended, pushing back his UFC return until after October.

According to the report, No. 1 ranked lightweight contender Tony Ferguson was offered the interim title fight against Holloway, but he turned it down. Ferguson responded on social media with an offer to drop weight to fight Holloway.

Also jumped in the ranking was McGregor, who will be eligible to return to the Octagon on April 6 from his respective UFC 229 suspension. This comes following rumors of a Donald Cerrone-McGregor showdown later this summer.

Poirier will get his first shot at UFC gold against Holloway, after earning his way into the title picture with consecutive wins over Eddie Alvarez, Justin Gaethje and Anthony Pettis.

Holloway won the featherweight crown at UFC 206 in December 2016, and has defended his belt three times, earning finishes against Anthony Pettis, Jose Aldo (twice) and Brian Ortega. “Blessed” has only lost three times in his career, with his first defeat coming at the hands of Poirier at UFC 143 back in 2012.

Holloway’s showdown with Poirier will co-main event the card alongside Israel Adesanya’s bout with Kelvin Gastellum.