Daniel Cormier reported that Max Holloway is preparing for a potential fight with Conor McGregor. Holloway confirmed he is actively training for this matchup, stating he wants the fight not just for the attention but because he believes he can avenge his earlier loss. He emphasized that when they first fought, he was much younger and McGregor beat him, but now as a mature fighter, he sees this as a meaningful rematch. Holloway expressed strong desire for the bout, saying it's the fight he wants and one that makes sense.
Max Holloway is actively preparing for a potential rematch with Conor McGregor, according to a report from former UFC champion Daniel Cormier. Holloway confirmed the pursuit himself, making clear that the matchup carries personal weight beyond any promotional buzz.
Holloway, 34, enters this conversation as one of the lightweight division's most dangerous strikers. Ranked fourth at lightweight and ninth on the pound-for-pound list, the Hawaiian carries a 27-9-0 record and an output that few fighters in the sport can match. He lands 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, numbers that reflect both his relentless pace and volume. Fighting out of Hawaii under Gracie Technics, the six-foot-one orthodox striker stands as one of the division's most established names.
McGregor, now 37 and fighting out of SBG Ireland, holds a 22-6-0 record and brings a different kind of threat. The southpaw Irishman owns a 74-inch reach despite standing five-foot-nine, and he lands 5.32 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy. His return to active competition would make any matchup an immediate event.
Holloway was candid about the history between the two. He acknowledged that McGregor defeated him when he was a younger, less developed fighter, and framed the rematch as an opportunity to settle unfinished business on his own terms as a mature competitor.
Why it matters
- Holloway is ranked fourth at lightweight, meaning a high-profile win could push him firmly into title contention
- A McGregor return fight would draw significant attention to the lightweight division
- The style matchup pits Holloway's relentless volume striking against McGregor's power and reach advantage
- Holloway's personal motivation adds an element that goes beyond a typical promotional callout
