Conor McGregor has expressed lingering dissatisfaction over not securing a finish in his 2013 bout against Max Holloway. McGregor noted at the time that finishes were financially rewarded by the promotion, remarking that the extra pay was needed to cover the cost of his custom-made suits.
Conor McGregor has revisited a piece of unfinished business from the early days of his UFC career, expressing dissatisfaction that he failed to stop Max Holloway when the two met in 2013. McGregor made the remarks recently, pointing to the promotion's bonus structure at the time as motivation to seek a finish, quipping that the extra pay was necessary to fund his custom-made suits.
McGregor, now 37, carries a professional record of 22-6 and built his career as one of combat sports' most recognizable figures out of SBG Ireland. The southpaw stands five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach and lands 5.32 significant strikes per minute at a 49 percent accuracy rate. The Dubliner's early UFC run was marked by a rapid string of finishes that helped establish his reputation and, as he now reflects, his wardrobe.
Holloway, meanwhile, has developed into one of the sport's most decorated strikers since that 2013 meeting. Now 34 and ranked fourth in the lightweight division as well as ninth pound-for-pound, the Hawaiian holds a record of 27-9 and represents one of the most prolific volume strikers in UFC history. Fighting out of an orthodox stance at five-foot-eleven with a 69-inch reach, Holloway lands a remarkable 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- The 2013 fight came before either man had reached the heights of their respective careers, lending the reflection an added layer of historical weight.
- McGregor's comments highlight how early UFC bonus structures shaped fighter mentality and in-cage decision-making during that era.
- Holloway has since become a perennial top-ten pound-for-pound presence, making McGregor's inability to finish him look increasingly significant in hindsight.
