UFC finally confirmed Conor McGregor’s return last night, and the rumours around a Max Holloway rematch are now official. The pair will meet on 11 July in International Fight Week’s main event.
That alone would have been enough to generate huge attention. McGregor has not fought for five years, while Holloway remains one of the most respected names of his generation.
But the announcement immediately carried its own old energy. The Irishman and ‘Blessed’ did not wait for fight week, because their first shots have already been traded online.
Conor McGregor and Max Holloway waste no time trading shots after UFC news
McGregor moved first on X, posting a picture from their original fight with his hand on Holloway’s face. His message was blunt: “You’re gonna put respect on my m————name.”
The 34-year-old American answered with his own clip. He shared a video of him knocking ‘The Notorious’ down with a head kick and wrote: “Nah, big dog, you gonna put some respect on my name.”
It was exactly the type of exchange UFC would have wanted, adding intrigue to the storyline, as their first meeting came so early in both careers.
McGregor beat Holloway by unanimous decision in August 2013, in what was the Irishman’s second UFC fight. ‘Blessed’ had entered that night after a defeat, just as he does now.
What followed made that result age differently. Holloway went on a 13-fight winning streak after losing to McGregor, becoming one of the defining featherweights of the modern era.
That is why this rematch does not feel like simple nostalgia. Holloway needs momentum again, while McGregor is returning from a five-year absence and carries so much uncertainty.
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