Thirteen years ago, at UFC Fight Night 26 in Boston, future legends Conor McGregor and Max Holloway fought in a featherweight bout on the preliminary card. McGregor defeated “Blessed” via unanimous decision. It was the Irishman’s second octagon appearance.
The two will rematch in the UFC 329 main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on July 11 and neither are the same fighters they were standing across from each other at TD Garden in 2013.
McGregor hasn’t fought since UFC 264 in July 2021 when he lost to Dustin Poirier after suffering a gruesome leg injury. It was his second consecutive loss to “The Diamond” and the Irishman has been on the sidelines since. While McGregor was out, Holloway was fighting the best in the world in two different weight classes.
After the loss to McGregor, Holloway went on to win the undisputed featherweight championship. He successfully defended the belt three times. The Hawaiian also captured and defended the BMF title. In the rematch, Holloway intends to take the Irishman into the later rounds and outlast him.
“We drown him. We down him. We’re going to give him an old Hawaiian style beating and drown him. We’re taking him to deep waters,” Holloway said on his YouTube channel. “Come Saturday night, Holloway versus McGregor 2, it’s going to be fireworks, man. The 4th of July ain’t nothing compared to come July 11th.”