​Conor McGregor is never shy about predicting bold outcomes for his fights, and he didn’t hide his irritation when Max Holloway floated the idea of a trilogy after already mapping out a victory at UFC 329 on Saturday. Ahead of the highly anticipated rematch, Holloway initially insisted he would make McGregor regret his return to the cage, only to walk that back. The former featherweight champion then said his plan is to defeat McGregor on Saturday, but leave him with just enough belief that he “can do it one more time so we can rematch at the end of the year.”
McGregor, however, found little humor in Holloway’s comments and is convinced his rival is simply chasing the largest paycheck possible before bowing out of the sport for good. “I find it disrespectful,” McGregor said at the UFC 329 pre-fight press conference. “I find it shows he is here for the economics of it. He must not realize the danger he is in. I forecast Holloway’s retirement on Saturday night. Not a trilogy for cash.”
Despite being away from competition for five years, McGregor has retained his hallmark swagger. Rather than a typical Mystic Mac proclamation, he outlined a variety of ways he believes he can dismantle and finish Holloway within a 25-minute fight. “I can destroy Max inside 10 seconds,” he claimed. “I have knockouts inside three seconds on my fighting record. I’ve defeated and destroyed Hall of Fame UFC fighters, and I’ve done so in under a minute. I can add Max to that.” He was careful, though, to emphasize that if the fight ventures into deeper waters, Holloway could find himself in serious trouble and badly concussed.
The history between the two adds layers of intrigue: their first bout in 2013 was marked by grappling exchanges over three rounds after McGregor tore his ACL and Holloway dealt with an ankle injury. The rematch, however, promises explosive stand-up exchanges. Holloway’s recent knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 showcased his formidable striking skills, reinforcing why he’s long been feared as a dangerous opponent in the cage.
McGregor dismissed the notion that Holloway has emerged as the premier boxing talent in the UFC, downplaying Holloway’s punching technique and suggesting it’s far from impressive. “I think his boxing is abysmal,” he said. “I don’t rate it once. He has one gear and it’s not impressive. Very rarely have we seen magic inside the octagon from Max Holloway. Little evil Holloway. Saturday night, he gets destroyed.”
Whether the outcome comes in a swift first round or extends into the later stages, McGregor insists he is prepared for whatever Holloway brings, including a potential – and infamous – celebratory “point down” gesture in the closing seconds if the moment calls for it to grab attention or SEO value. As they head toward UFC 329, the narrative remains clear: McGregor is ready to prove his dominance, Holloway is fighting for a major payday and perhaps a chance at a rematch later in the year, and the outcome could redefine both fighters’ trajectories.