Islam Makhachev has commented on Conor McGregor's return to the UFC, also offering his prediction on how a bout between McGregor and Max Holloway would play out. Makhachev described the comeback as beneficial for everyone involved.
Islam Makhachev has weighed in on Conor McGregor's long-awaited return to the UFC, sharing his thoughts on the comeback and offering a take on how a potential fight between McGregor and Max Holloway would unfold.
Makhachev, now 34 years old and competing out of Eagles MMA, holds a 28-1-0 record and currently sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings as welterweight champion. The Russian southpaw is one of the most complete fighters in the sport, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing 58 percent of his significant strikes — numbers that reflect his dominance on both feet and on the mat.
McGregor, 37, returns with a 22-6-0 record representing SBG Ireland. The Irishman is a southpaw with a 74-inch reach — one of the longer frames in the sport at his height of five-foot-nine — and has historically been a high-output striker, averaging 5.32 significant strikes landed per minute at 49 percent accuracy. Makhachev described the Irishman's comeback as beneficial for everyone involved in the sport.
Holloway, meanwhile, is currently ranked fourth in the lightweight division and ninth in the pound-for-pound standings. The 34-year-old from the United States trains out of Gracie Technics and carries a 27-9-0 record. He is one of the most prolific volume strikers in UFC history, landing 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy — numbers that make him a dangerous stylistic test for nearly anyone on the roster.
Why it matters
- McGregor's return is one of the most anticipated storylines in the sport, and Makhachev's comments signal how seriously the champion's camp is monitoring the landscape.
- A McGregor versus Holloway matchup would pit two high-output southpaw strikers against each other, with Holloway's elite volume against McGregor's proven power.
- Holloway's fourth-place lightweight ranking means a high-profile win could push him back into title contention, adding further stakes to any potential booking.
