Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway 2 may be in the works for the UFC schedule in 2022.
Holloway (22-6) competes in the main event of Saturday’s UFC Vegas 42 card. The top-ranked featherweight will face third-ranked Yair Rodriguez (13-2) in a matchup that is likely to decide who will be the next challenger to featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski. “Blessed” and the champ have a long history having fought in two closely contested title fights over the last two years. However, the 29-year-old Hawaiian came up short in both of those bouts. Making a possible trilogy fight not quite as appealing as the scenario usually would be.
Although UFC President Dana White has publicly stated his interest in a third fight, being a pound-for-pound ranked star, who has competed at featherweight and lightweight, does give Holloway some options. And in a recent interview with TMZ Sports to hype his Nov. 13 bout inside the UFC APEX, Holloway talked about his big fight possibilities, and how his name is always in the discussion for a secon go around with international MMA superstar Conor McGregor (22-6).
Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway 2 a real possibility next year
“I’ve got five title fight wins. I want that sixth title fight win, and if it can be [against] Alex then so be it. But at the end of the day, UFC discussed with us a bunch of things. There’s a bunch of possibilities. I’ve got a win over the 155 [pound] champ [Charles Oliveira]. I’m on a shortlist for Conor McGregor. Always on a shortlist for that fight,” Holloway said. “I’m the best boxer in the UFC, baby. We live in a time where it’s good to be alive as a fight fan because we live in a time where wild fights are happening. All I can say is use your imagination.”
The former featherweight king and likely UFC Hall-of-Famer admits his focus is all on Rodriguez at the moment. However, some recent tweets that have since been deleted have reignited the McGregor vs Holloway idea. And that if the rematch were to be made upon “Notorious’” return from a fractured leg, he feels it’s the sort of booking that UFC brass know could sell out a football stadium.
“Conor’s always talking about Nate [Diaz], he’s always talking about Dustin [Poirier], but if you go call Hunter [Campbell] with the UFC, and you ask him, ‘Who’s the guy that’s gonna sell pay-per-views at [155 or 145], that’s gonna mix it up with Conor, and do high numbers?’ My name always comes up,” he said. “I can’t wait. It would be a fun one for sure. Maybe not even in T-Mobile Arena, maybe something in the Raiders stadium. That would be crazy.”
The pair originally fought at a Fight Night event in August 2013 when they were both potential-filled 145-pound prospects on the rise. The Irishman left with the W that night by way of a unanimous decision.
McGregor is expected to return to action at some point in the second quarter of 2022. Following surgery to repair a fractured leg he suffered during a second straight loss to Poirier at UFC 264 in July.
UFC Vegas 42 kicks off at 1 pm ET exclusively on ESPN+ with the preliminary portion of the card. The main card will follow at 4 pm ET.
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