Conor McGregor names Max Holloway as his choice for final UFC contract fight

Speaking at the BKFC Glasgow post-fight press conference, McGregor said he is three months on from knee surgery and believes he could be back before summer 2027.

Conor McGregor has said a third meeting with Max Holloway is the only fight he wants as he returns to complete the last bout on his UFC contract, speaking at the BKFC Glasgow post-fight press conference.

The pair's rematch in July ended when McGregor blew out his knee with his first kick of the fight. He is now recovering from surgery and has said emphatically that he will come back to fulfil the final fight of his deal before reaching free agency.

McGregor said Holloway did not engage once and was the one who called for the referee to stop the contest. He said: “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. It has to be Holloway. Just f*cking dust it off, re-do it.” He had initially announced plans to return at International Fight Week in 2027, a year on from the injury, but now appears to be targeting an earlier comeback if the knee has healed properly. McGregor said he was three months out from surgery and had returned from the same injury within nine months before, which he said would put him back before summer.

Holloway has said he is open to running the fight back, but that it comes down to timing.

If Holloway is not available, McGregor said he would accept another opponent only if they have championship credentials. He said: “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.” He added: “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.”

Every UK fight result and what's next, every Friday. Get the free UK fight briefing

Add Combat Sports UK as a preferred source on Google