TLDR
- Islam Makhachev would accept a fight with Max Holloway if the UFC offers it, according to coach Javier Mendez
- Holloway defeated Conor McGregor at UFC 329 on July 11, though the fight ended early due to McGregor’s injury
- Mendez praised Holloway’s warrior mentality despite his grappling loss to Charles Oliveira earlier this year
- The coach said he was disappointed McGregor’s injury prevented a potential mega-fight with Makhachev
- No timeline has been announced for a potential Makhachev-Holloway matchup
Sources: sherdog.com | boxingnews.com
UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev would accept a fight against Max Holloway if the promotion offers it, according to his longtime coach Javier Mendez. The American Kickboxing Academy coach made the comments to Submission Radio following Holloway’s victory at UFC 329.
Holloway defeated Conor McGregor at UFC 329 on July 11, though the fight ended early when McGregor suffered an injury. The win came after Holloway had expressed his desire to fight Makhachev before the event.
Mendez said both fighters would be willing to face each other if the UFC decides to make the matchup. He praised Holloway’s fighting spirit and willingness to take on any challenge.
Mendez Praises Holloway’s Warrior Mentality
“Whatever the UFC wants to do, Islam’s going to say yes and Max is a legend and he doesn’t back down from anybody,” Mendez told Submission Radio. “You can’t cross Max out in any competition because he’s game.”
The coach acknowledged that Holloway’s performance in such a fight is uncertain. However, he emphasized that the former featherweight champion has the right mindset to compete at the highest level.
Javier Mendez pays respect to Conor McGregor, calling him a true warrior despite the heartbreaking ending to his return.🙏
"To have a warrior like Conor train as hard as he did after a five-year layoff and make a comeback, only for something like that to happen, your heart has… pic.twitter.com/R1QfRJibjY
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) July 13, 2026
“Whether he does well or not, well, I don’t know,” Mendez said. “But he’s game for it, so you can’t ever cross him out. He’s got the mind of a warrior and the mindset of a champion, so he’s up for any challenge, I feel.”
Holloway suffered a lopsided grappling loss to Charles Oliveira earlier this year. Despite that defeat, Mendez believes Holloway will continue pursuing a fight with the current 170-pound champion.
McGregor Fight Would Have Been Mega-Event
Mendez admitted he was disappointed that McGregor’s injury prevented a potential future matchup with Makhachev. A McGregor victory at UFC 329 could have set up a massive fight between the Irish star and the welterweight champion.
“Bummer. I mean, I wanted that fight because, look, listen, we as coaches, we live for those moments to have an opportunity to be with something like that, that magnitude,” Mendez said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to have quite a few of them, so to have another mega fight like that around the corner, potentially, that would have been a great honor.”
The coach has been in Makhachev’s corner throughout his rise to the welterweight championship. Mendez has coached several high-profile fighters at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California.
Makhachev currently holds the UFC welterweight title and has defended it successfully multiple times. Holloway has competed primarily at featherweight throughout his career, where he held the championship for several years.
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The UFC has not announced any timeline for a potential Makhachev-Holloway bout. No official discussions about the matchup have been confirmed by the promotion.
Holloway’s win over McGregor at UFC 329 marked his first fight at welterweight in recent years. The victory keeps him in the conversation for high-profile matchups across multiple weight classes.
