Max Holloway believes UFC fans can make a rematch with Conor McGregor happen when he makes his comeback.
McGregor fought and defeated Holloway back in 2013 when the pair were fighting at 145lb, with most of the fight being on the ground despite their striking abilities. It was just McGregor's second fight with the promotion while Holloway was making his sixth appearance with the pair relatively inexperienced at the top level.
And 'Blessed' believes the pair were just "babies" when sharing the octagon nine years ago, and reckons a poll would help settle the best option for his rival's UFC return. "That question – Do you think I’m the best option for him? I ask you. Let’s go have a poll," Holloway said when asked about a rematch in an interview with ESPN MMA. "Go ask the fans. Because give them what the fans want. The people keep talking about it. That [first] fight was, like I said, that fight was ‘Baby Max,’ ‘Baby Conor.’ We was just two babies in the UFC doing our thing."
McGregor hasn't fought at 145lb since defeating Jose Aldo to claim the title before electing to switch to 155lb and become the UFC's first double-champion. Holloway began talking up a rematch last year proposing that the pair can meet when McGregor is able to return to the cage.
After defeating Yair Rodriguez last November, Holloway sent a message to McGregor during his post-fight interview calling for the second instalment. This prompted a video response from McGregor who shadow-boxed the TV screen before later deleting the post.
The Irish star hasn't fought since breaking his leg during a second consecutive defeat to Dustin Poirier last year. It appears highly unlikely that he will return to 145lb following his remarkable weight transformation which has seen him walking around at 190lb.
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McGregor is instead expected to eye a return at 170lb where any title challenge could see him become the UFC's first three-weight champion. His coach John Kavanagh believes a return at a higher weight will be much more beneficial to prevent further drastic cuts. “You might have seen some extreme pictures of Conor from years ago when he was fighting in the lower weight classes in the UFC," Kavanagh said on an Instagram live session.
"They were very extreme and they were all done under the eyes of a medical professional. Even he himself wouldn’t ever go back to those weight classes now. It’s not healthy, and it’s not for the longterm. I would encourage you to look at his more recent pictures he’s putting up on Instagram. Look how big and strong that looks. That’s what it is to be a fighter, get big, get strong, and be healthy for life."
McGregor's weight decision would likely jeopardise any rematch with Holloway unless his rival is willing to hike to 155lb following his trilogy title clash with Alexander Volkanovski.
