TLDR
- McGregor says Max Holloway must be his opponent for his final UFC fight
- The Irish fighter suffered a knee injury in their July rematch after his first kick
- McGregor expects to return pre-summer 2027, nine months after surgery
- He claims Holloway called for the fight to be stopped and wouldn’t engage
- McGregor warned fighters without world championship credentials not to mention his name
Sources: sports.yahoo.com | mmafighting.com
Conor McGregor has made it clear who he wants for his final UFC fight. The Irish superstar says Max Holloway is the only acceptable opponent as he recovers from knee surgery.
McGregor spoke at the BKFC Glasgow post-fight press conference about his comeback plans. He addressed several fighters who have called him out recently.
“It has to be Holloway,” McGregor said. “Just do the f*cking thing again.”
The two fighters met in a rematch in July 2026 that ended in disaster. McGregor blew out his knee on his first kick of the fight.
Conor McGregor was absolutely unhinged at the BKFC press conference today ðŸ˜
(via @bareknucklefc) pic.twitter.com/q4BEdGzAQ1
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) November 8, 2026
McGregor Claims Holloway Avoided Engagement
McGregor accused Holloway of calling for the fight to be stopped after the injury. He said the former featherweight champion wouldn’t engage with him even when he was standing on one leg.
“The guy didn’t engage once,” McGregor said. “He’s the one that called for the stoppage in the fight. He said ‘ref, ref!’ He’s the one stopping the fight.”
McGregor expressed frustration with how the fight ended. “On the one leg, he wasn’t coming near me. So shocking and so heartbreaking to me and I’m still f*cking dealing with it,” he said.
Holloway has publicly stated he is open to a third fight with McGregor. The timing of the bout remains the main question.
McGregor initially planned to return during International Fight Week in 2027. That would mark one year from his previous fight and injury.
Now the former two-division champion suggests he might come back even sooner. He said he is three months removed from surgery as of November 2026.
“I done this injury before and returned within nine months,” McGregor said. “So nine months is pre-summer.”
Warning to Lower-Level Fighters
McGregor also issued a harsh warning to fighters without championship experience. He told them to stop mentioning his name in callouts.
“If you’re not a world champion fighter, if you’ve not got world accolades to your name, don’t utter my f*cking name,” McGregor said. “If you’re a national champion, if you’re a f*cking regional champion, if you’ve don’t f*ck all but got a few likes, go f*ck yourself.”
The comeback fight will fulfill the final bout on McGregor’s UFC contract. After that, he will become a free agent.
McGregor acknowledged that Holloway might not be available for various reasons. If that happens, he said he would consider other opponents.
However, those opponents must meet his standards. “A fighter that fights me, put some respect on my name,” McGregor said.
McGregor repeated that only world-caliber fighters should consider themselves potential opponents. He wants someone with championship credentials for his final UFC appearance.
The Irish fighter said he wants to compete “again and again” after his return. His pre-summer 2027 timeline would put his comeback around April or May.
