Dana White has terse response to Conor McGregor’s Max Holloway request
Conor McGregor is on the mend following the brutal knee injury he suffered in his UFC 329 main event bout against Max Holloway last week, but he already knows which opponent he wants to face next.
“It has to be Holloway,” McGregor responded when a fan on social media asked him who he want his next fight to be against.
McGregor can advocate for any fight that he wishes, but ultimately it’s up to UFC president and CEO Dana White and chief business officer Hunter Campbell, the company’s chief matchmaker, to decide who McGregor fights next.
Possible grudge matches against Michael Chandler and Dustin Poirier could also be on the table, as could a fight against previously unbeaten lightweight champion Ilia Topuria.
White was asked his thoughts on a possible McGregor-Holloway trilogy fight, and he had gave a very blunt answer.
“Not even thinking about it,” White said on the “Spinnin Backfist MMA Show” on Friday. “Conor still has to have knee surgery and go through everything he’s going to have to go through.
“I understand he’s very unhappy with the way [expletive] played out but you’re a human being, you’re older, you haven’t fought in five years and Father Time is undefeated. So who the [expletive] knows what’s going to happen with Max over the next year and what’s going to happen with Conor over the next year?”
McGregor has one fight left on his UFC contract — a commitment he intends to keep. The trash-talking Irishman posted on social media that he plans to have surgery on his knee, rehab, and return for one more fight.
He won the first bout against Holloway back in 2013 and lost the second fight via TKO last weekend, though he’s since advocated for that result to be changed to a no contest since his injury ended the fight after just 69 seconds.
Conversely, Holloway has stated if his next fight isn’t against McGregor he would like a title fight against reigning lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, who he defeated by knockout at UFC 300 back in 2024.
