Max Holloway wants to beat Conor McGregor in competitive UFC 329 fight ‘so we can rematch at the end of the year’
Max Holloway won’t be satisfied beating Conor McGregor just once.
When Holloway makes the walk to the cage for Saturday’s UFC 329 main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, he won’t only be seeking revenge for a 13-year-old loss, he’ll be looking to spoil the comeback of one of the biggest stars in combat sports history. McGregor broke his leg in a loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021 and hasn’t fought since, raising questions as to his level of motivation, fitness, and passion for competition. He claims there are already plans for the final fight of his UFC contract to take place in April 2027, and after that it’s anyone’s guess as to when, where, or if McGregor fights again.
Holloway is convinced that if he plays his cards right, he could be the one to be McGregor’s last UFC opponent and they won’t have to wait until April.
“I’m going in there and put paws on him,” Holloway said at UFC 329 media day on Wednesday. “I’m going to make him wish that he didn’t come back—actually no, I’m not going to make him wish that. I’m going to make him think that he can do it one more time so we can rematch at the end of the year.”
In their first fight in August 2013, McGregor picked up a gutsy decision win after he injured his knee in the bout and utilized a wrestling-heavy attack to neutralize Holloway. Both fighters went on to enormous success, with McGregor later winning titles at featherweight and lightweight, and Holloway becoming featherweight champion and successfully defending his belt three times.
Despite McGregor having just four MMA fights and one win in the past decade, he remains one of the most famous names in all of combat sports, and Holloway assured reporters that his pay for this matchup is more than satisfactory.
“It’s beautiful,” Holloway said. “I tell you this much, every single guy, fighter or non-fighter is saying I’m fighting for money. I’m a prizefighter, brother, this is what we do. If you wasn’t fighting for money, you’re an idiot.”
As for the narrative heading into the bout, Holloway is excited to have the opportunity to continue a story that he assumed had reached its conclusion ages ago. Though McGregor and Holloway had often praised each other and occasionally spoke of a rematch, nothing official was ever announced until now.
Winning the McGregor sweepstakes is a lucrative opportunity that isn’t lost on Holloway.
“It’s huge,” Holloway said. “Who would have thought Conor was even coming back after what happened with the injury and with him and his other injury at a fight that he had, so it’s just big. I finally get to right a wrong and I’m looking forward to it.
“He’s a killer and I’m looking forward to seeing the best Conor McGregor come July 11. Hopefully, I get a SportsCenter No. 1 spot up there.”
Holloway is currently a -235 favorite on FanDuel, and much of the discussion leading up to the fight has revolved around McGregor possibly being past his prime (he turns 38 three days after UFC 329) and likely not being in the best possible shape given the numerous outside distractions he’s dealt with in the years since his most recent fight.
In the lead-up to Saturday’s event, McGregor has done multiple interviews claiming he has rededicated himself to training and eliminated outside distractions, but a large portion of the fanbase is still unconvinced that “Notorious” will be anywhere near his peak form. Holloway isn’t buying into the chatter.
“That’s crazy talk,” Holloway said. “A lot of people, a lot of fans are counting Conor out, which is crazy. A lot of people counted Justin Gaethje out [against Ilia Topuria], this is different. This is a different situation, but this guy has unlimited money, he has a lot of connections, he’s coming back from a crazy injury. He’s supposedly found God and his kids are going to be here at the fights. I saw Tim Grover with him, I don’t know if that’s the coach now, but he’s doing all the right things.
“So I’m getting ready for the most dangerous Conor McGregor we ever saw and nobody’s telling me otherwise, because once you start overlooking people, things don’t go too well for you.”
