Dillon Danis says he believes Conor McGregor is being underestimated ahead of his return to competition. Danis predicts McGregor will knock out Max Holloway and subsequently fight Islam Makhachev in his following bout.
Dillon Danis has gone public with bold predictions for Conor McGregor's return, insisting the Irishman is being written off too quickly and forecasting a knockout win over Max Holloway followed by a showdown with Islam Makhachev.
McGregor, 37, carries a 22-6-0 record and trains out of SBG Ireland. The southpaw stands five-foot-nine with a notably long 74-inch reach and has historically been one of the more active strikers in the sport, averaging 5.32 significant strikes landed per minute at 49 percent accuracy across his career. Danis argued that the broader MMA community is underestimating what McGregor can bring upon his comeback.
Standing in the way of that scenario, at least in Danis's vision, is Max Holloway. The 34-year-old Hawaiian is currently ranked fourth in the lightweight division and ninth in the pound-for-pound standings, carrying a 27-9-0 record. Holloway is widely regarded as one of the most prolific volume strikers in the sport, averaging a remarkable 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. He trains out of Gracie Technics and fights out of an orthodox stance.
Should McGregor get past Holloway, Danis sees a date with Islam Makhachev as the logical next step. Makhachev, also 34, holds a 28-1-0 record and is the current welterweight champion, sitting atop the pound-for-pound rankings. The Russian southpaw, representing Eagles MMA, is built around elite grappling, averaging 3.2 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, while also posting a 58 percent striking accuracy rate.
Why it matters
- McGregor's long-awaited return carries enormous divisional and commercial weight regardless of division
- A win over the fourth-ranked Holloway would immediately reinsert McGregor into lightweight title conversations
- Makhachev's dominant grappling game would present a stark stylistic contrast to McGregor's counter-striking approach
- The predictions remain the opinion of Danis and carry no official confirmation from any of the fighters or the UFC
