Max Holloway isn’t banking on a Conor McGregor return.
The former UFC featherweight champion thinks there’s a chance McGregor is not seen back again in the octagon. Holloway (23-6 MMA, 19-6 UFC), who fought and lost a decision to McGregor in 2013, thinks the Irish superstar has little incentive to fight again outside a sporting and competition aspect.
“With all this Conor talk and saying whatever, he never committed to coming back,” Holloway told ESPN. “He never once said he’d come back. And rightfully so, he shouldn’t.
“Conor is what everyone wants to be. Everyone wants to get in this fight game, make the money, and then save your chickens. I wouldn’t even blame him if he didn’t want to come back. If you want to come back, that’s his competitive side straight doing it. … We’ll see what happens. All respect to him.”
McGregor, 33, most recently fought in July 2021 when he suffered a second consecutive defeat to Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 264. The loss was a TKO by doctor’s stoppage when he suffered a break of his tibia and was unable to continue fighting.
The former two-division UFC champion is still recovering from the surgery required to amend his leg. He recently posted a video kicking for the first time since the break.
Holloway returns Saturday in Las Vegas. He takes on champion Alexander Volkanovski in a trilogy bout that’s set to serve as the co-main event of UFC 276.
Holloway is solely focused on getting the featherweight belt back, but knows a fight against McGregor could be in the future if the Irishman does return to the UFC.
“That Conor fight, I tell you all the time, we’re on the shortlist for that,” Holloway said. “But first thing is first: We’ve got (Volkanovski). We’ll see.”
