Conor McGregor seriously must be out of his mind, at least according to Max Holloway. Their highly anticipated rematch at UFC 329 went down as a 69-second dud after McGregor blew out his knee on an immediate jumping kick. Holloway sealed the win by injury TKO, but the real fireworks are happening now, weeks later, with McGregor trying to spin this whole mess into something it just wasn’t.
McGregor’s “Delusional” Excuses Get Ripped Apart
So, what’s McGregor’s take on the shortest, most unsatisfying main event maybe ever? He’s been on damage control since the July 11 event in Vegas, calling for the fight to be ruled a no contest. Get this: he’s blaming the fog from his entrance for causing him to slip and get injured! Seriously? On top of that, he’s still promising a “generational beating” that’s just “postponed.” Holloway, rightfully so, is calling total BS on all of it. “For that dude to be talking about how it was slippery because of the dry ice or whatever, I don’t know what he’s talking about because I didn’t fall,” Holloway said on his YouTube channel. He didn’t stop there, either. He flat out called McGregor “delusional” for talking about a “generational beating.” Holloway felt McGregor was “slow in there,” that he “looked old.” If anyone was gonna dish out a beatdown, Holloway is adamant it wasn’t coming from McGregor’s side. And honestly, who wouldn’t feel bad for the fans who spent good money for a big event only to see it end like that? Holloway gets it. He even said he “had the man weak in the knees from the beginning, I guess.” Yikes.
What’s Next for Holloway After the McGregor Flop?
At 34, Max Holloway isn’t sitting around waiting for McGregor to stop making excuses. He’s got his sights set on some serious hardware, laying out three clear options for the UFC. The former featherweight champ is eyeing a lightweight or welterweight title shot, or, if the money’s right, a trilogy with McGregor once the dude is actually cleared to come back. “If it’s a title shot in either weight class, sign ya boy up,” Holloway declared. He’s even got a solid claim for the “Conor McGregor belt, the money belt,” if that trilogy ever happens.
A welterweight title shot might be a long shot, given the McGregor rematch was his very first appearance at 170 pounds, especially considering McGregor hadn’t even competed in five years. But a lightweight title shot? That’s a whole different story. Holloway’s got a legit case there, rocking an April 2024 knockout win over none other than lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. That KO was Gaethje’s last defeat before he went on a three-fight winning streak to claim the 155-pound title. Holloway’s 28-9 MMA (24-9 UFC) record speaks for itself, too. This isn’t just talk, this is a real path to gold.
So, while McGregor is out here blaming slippery fog, Holloway is ready to get back in there and actually fight for a championship. The question is, which one will the UFC give him first? And will McGregor ever get over this “delusional” phase? I’m betting on Holloway to make moves.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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