Holloway likely out until 2026 with hand injury

Max Holloway doesn't expect to fight again this year.

The former UFC featherweight champion said he's dealing with a hand injury and will likely be sidelined until 2026.

"If you have hopes of me fighting before the end of the year, probably not gonna happen," Holloway said in a video published Friday on his YouTube channel.

Holloway earned a unanimous decision win over Dustin Poirier in the UFC 318 main event in New Orleans in July. The 33-year-old, who defended the BMF title with the victory, said his right hand "still hurts" from the fight. He didn't specify what the injury is, but added he's seeing a specialist later this week.

"Things are not looking too up of me fighting one more time this year," Holloway said. "All that fight talk, I guess, is on stilts. We just get to see how the '55 (division) is gonna pan out."

Holloway firmly cemented himself as a top lightweight contender with the win over Poirier after having already knocked out Justin Gaethje last year. The Hawaiian is ranked No. 3 in the division, and his only loss in the last three years came against Ilia Topuria in a 145-pound title fight.

Holloway expressed interest in a rematch with former champ Charles Oliveira next, though now a timetable for his return is unclear.

"There's a lot of fun fights ... for me at '55," Holloway said. "Like I said, there's Oliveira. If Justin gets the next title shot, that'd be cool. If I get the next title shot, that'd be sick."