Max Holloway is actively training for a potential fight with Conor McGregor, according to Daniel Cormier. Holloway confirmed his preparation, stating this is the fight he wants most. He emphasized that he's seeking this matchup not just for the attention it would bring, but because he believes he can avenge his previous loss to McGregor. Holloway noted that when they first fought, he was young and lost, but now as a mature fighter he wants the rematch. He stated this fight makes sense and is what he's currently focused on in training.
Max Holloway is actively preparing for a potential rematch with Conor McGregor, with former UFC champion Daniel Cormier confirming the news after Holloway spoke openly about his training focus and motivations.
Holloway, 34, holds a 27-9 record and is currently ranked fourth in the lightweight division and ninth on the pound-for-pound list. The Hawaiian fighter out of Gracie Technics is one of the most prolific strikers in the sport, landing 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. He made clear that this matchup is his top priority right now, driven not by the spectacle it would generate but by a personal desire for redemption. Holloway has pointed to their first meeting as unfinished business, noting he was a younger, less developed fighter when he fell to McGregor and believes he is a very different fighter today.
McGregor, 37, carries a 22-6 record and fights out of SBG Ireland. The Irish southpaw has a 74-inch reach despite standing five-foot-nine, and averages 5.32 significant strikes per minute. The original bout between the two is a chapter Holloway has long wanted to revisit.
Cormier, the 47-year-old former two-division champion turned broadcaster with a 22-3 record, served as the messenger here, relaying Holloway's confirmed focus on this specific fight.
Why it matters
- Holloway is ranked fourth at lightweight, meaning a win over a high-profile opponent like McGregor could strengthen his case for a title shot
- The rematch angle gives the fight a genuine narrative beyond star power, with Holloway framing it as a personal proving ground
- A southpaw counterpuncher against one of the division's highest-volume strikers sets up a compelling stylistic clash
