Max Holloway wants to run it back with Conor McGregor.
The former featherweight champion and current lightweight contender is awaiting his next assignment from the UFC following a lopsided loss to Charles Oliveira in a “BMF” title fight at UFC 326. Even before that fight happened, Holloway mentioned his interest in a rematch against McGregor, who has been teasing his return to action in 2026 following a five-year long absence from the sport while recovering from a devastating broken leg.
Holloway fell to McGregor via decision back in 2013 but well past a decade later, “Blessed” wants to test the Irish superstar again.
“Before the fight, I was talking about it,” Holloway said about McGregor on his YouTube channel. “I mean Conor’s there, Conor got one over me. He’s talking about coming back. I’m coming off a loss. It would look pretty fun to get that one back with him.”
The first fight happened at featherweight and both fighters actually suffered severe injuries during the three-round battle. Holloway was dealing with an ankle injury while McGregor blew his ACL, which obviously required surgery and a lengthy layoff afterwards.
They never met again, although both McGregor and Holloway have expressed interest in a rematch.
As he plots his comeback, McGregor hasn’t confirmed his weight class, although all rumors point towards a return to welterweight where he scored wins over Nate Diaz and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in the past.
While he’s never competed at 170 pounds, Holloway says he’s down for the challenge, especially if it means he doesn’t have to endure a weight cut before the fight.
“I know a lot of people are worried about the weight and this and that,” Holloway said. “If he doesn’t want to cut weight then I don’t want to cut weight. We can do it at any weight to be honest. It’s just about getting it back.
“At the end of the day, that would be a fun fight but we’ll see what happens. We’ll see what way the UFC wants to go and that’s all we can do.”
Holloway mentioned that he still needs to sit down to talk with his team about what comes next but he’s obviously anxious to erase the bad taste of a defeat out of his mouth.
A showdown against McGregor would not only allow Holloway the chance to avenge a past loss but there’s little doubt that would be one of the biggest non-title fights the UFC could potentially book.
Now it’s just a matter of whether or not the UFC is interested.
“Sign me up,” Holloway said. “If [155 pounds] is busy right now, we don’t know who to pick. I know Conor keeps talking about coming back. That would be a fun fight. That fight really excites me and weight wouldn’t be an issue.”
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