Max Holloway wants to go away Conor McGregor with some hope at UFC 329.
The pair will headline the UFC’s 2026 edition of International Fight Week, as ‘Blessed’ welcomes MMA’s biggest star back from his five-year layoff.
McGregor’s rematch with Holloway is 13 years within the making, and it serves as a possibility for the Hawaiian fan favorite to right one among the wrongs from earlier in his profession.
And he plans to try this not once, but twice, this 12 months.
Can Conor McGregor 🇮🇪 overcome a five-year layoff to beat Max Holloway again?
Max Holloway plans to take it easy on Conor McGregor at UFC 329
McGregor and Holloway first met in Boston way back in 2013, when each men were early of their respective journeys to becoming UFC featherweight champions.
The Irishman overcame a torn ACL to secure a unanimous decision victory at 145 kilos. Despite having a size advantage of their upcoming welterweight joust, not many are picking McGregor to win.
Given his inactivity, McGregor is being widely tipped to suffer a nasty defeat at UFC 329. But even when he’s able to inflicting such a result on his rival, Holloway claims he plans to decide on against doing so.
Speaking at media day on Wednesday, ‘Blessed’ revealed his plan to avoid beating McGregor so badly that it takes a possible trilogy fight off of the table.
“I’m gonna go in there and put paws on him,” Holloway said.
“I wanna make him wish that he didn’t come back — actually, no. I’m not gonna make him wish that.
“I’m gonna make him think that he can do it yet one more time, so we are able to rematch at the top of the 12 months,” he added.
Fans warn Max Holloway he could look ‘silly’ by underestimating Conor McGregor
Fans have been reacting to Holloway’s comments on social media, and it’s secure to say that the 34-year-old’s words have left loads of fans agitated.
Some suggested ‘Blessed’ won’t have the posh of holding back against the UFC’s first-ever simultaneous double champion.
Others, meanwhile, expressed their want to see the Hawaiian ending McGregor inside the gap on July 11.
“The MAC won’t take it easy on you…it should be done in a single.”
“Hell nah….wym take it easy…I wanna see a knockout in case you can get it.”
“Okay so in case you lose I don’t need to hear it’s since you took it easy on him. I knew I didn’t like this guy for a reason.”
“If he says this after which gets slept brutally I can’t defend him anymore.”
“That’s extremely disrespectful of Conor’s skill set and Max goes to look very silly if he loses.”
“At 170? Max is in deep s—.”
“Code for saying ‘if I look bad against an old washed up Conor then that is my excuse’.”
“Max bettors are gonna be holding their breath.”
“Don’t forget he’s Conor McGregor.”
“Disrespecting anyone after his last performance is wealthy coming off of somebody that may’t do anything about one man holding him down.”
“Did he take it easy on Ilia Topuria?”
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