Conor McGregor has vowed that Max Holloway “won’t lay a glove on me” when they fight on 11 July.
In the main event of UFC 329 in Las Vegas, McGregor will fight for the first time in five years, having suffered a broken leg in his last fight.
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The Irishman’s return will come against Holloway, whom McGregor outpointed in 2013. While McGregor enters their rematch on the back of that injury-induced loss to Dustin Poirier from 2021, Holloway enters UFC 329 after a one-sided points loss to Charles Oliveira in March.
Conor McGregor after breaking his leg in a 2021 defeat (Getty)
On Sunday, the UFC hosted a remarkable fight card at the White House, where commentator Joe Rogan filmed an interview with McGregor and Holloway, who were dialing in from Ireland and Hawaii respectively.
“You say the best boxer, we’re gonna see now,” McGregor said, referring to Holloway’s past claim that he is the UFC’s best boxer. “Do you know, Joe, I’ve sat by and listened to people claim this man to be the No 1 featherweight of all time, when I son-ed him at that weight.
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“Do you know that I’ve listened to people throughout the years say: ‘They were only kids back then.’ Oh, sorry, ‘Holloway was only a kid back then,’ and I was not when myself and Max faced for the first time. Max [was having] his sixth UFC fight, he was my second. In Boston, I put my big Irish paws on your face, and I’m gonna do it again.”
Indeed, McGregor’s first fight with the Hawaiian occurred at featherweight, where both men went on to become champions. McGregor later added the lightweight title, while Holloway more recently held the “Baddest Motherf****r” belt at that weight.
However, Holloway has never fought at welterweight, where he will take on McGregor, who has fought in the division three times.
“No disrespect, Max, you’re not gonna lay a glove on me,” McGregor said. “And even if you do lay a glove on me, I’m gonna laugh in your face. It’s another world here against me, and it’s another world at this weight. I’m gonna come out of this bout unscathed and in all glory.”
McGregor during his 2013 win over Max Holloway (Getty)
“We talk about ancestors, we talk about warriors,” Holloway responded. “I’m the Hawaiian warrior, brother. I’m gonna clip your face over and over again, brother. I already know this, brother.”
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The 34-year-old then referred to McGregor’s old moniker of “Mystic Mac”, which the Irishman coined after consistently, accurately predicting his fights during his prime.
“Welcome to the Mystic Max era,” said Holloway. “Welcome back, Mystic Max is here. Return of the Max, 11 July. A bunch of gloves is gonna get laid on that pretty face, brother, keep it clean for me.”
Charles Oliveira controlled Holloway for most of their fight in March (Getty)
“Joe, Max is my child, excuse his rudeness,” McGregor said. “I’m gonna box with my hands down. Child, quiet. I’m gonna come out of this fight unscathed, and I want to go again.”
When asked about the welterweight factor of this fight, Holloway told Rogan: “Brother, this is just another fight. He keeps talking about ‘weight this, weight that’; I’ve been the smallest guy in my gym most of the time throughout my career, so I can’t wait for it, man.
“Just show up 11 July, brother. It’s all love always, Conor. I just can’t wait, bro. I’ll see you 11 July, it’s gonna be fun.”
