Max Holloway Confirms Start of Training Camp as Rumored Conor McGregor Rematch Awaiting Contract

Max Holloway has revealed he is in training camp to prepare for his next fight, but also expressed his disappointment over contract.

Max Holloway Confirms Start of Training Camp as Rumored Conor McGregor Rematch Awaiting Contract

Max Holloway v Conor McGregor [via Clutch Points and UFC.com]

In Short
  • Max Holloway has confirmed he has started training camp for a potential fight against Conor McGregor.
  • The UFC has not officially announced the matchup, leaving Holloway without a signed contract.
  • Holloway aims to avenge his previous loss to McGregor, despite both fighters coming off defeats.

Max Holloway is heavily rumored to be Conor McGregor‘s return fight in the UFC at the International Fight Week event in July. However, the UFC has yet to announce it officially. Even so, it seems the former featherweight champion has already entered camp for his next fight despite not having a contract.

Max Holloway is coming off losing his BMF title to Charles Oliveira at UFC 326. The Hawaiian’s momentum from his victories at lightweight over Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier was brought to an immediate halt by Oliveira’s suffocating performance. But that loss has seemingly opened the door for a more lucrative fight against Conor McGregor.

Rumors of Max Holloway being the favorite to fight Conor McGregor have been doing the rounds for a while now. In an interview with Shakiel Mahjouri, Max Holloway revealed that he was already in camp for his next fight. However, no contracts, let alone one specifying a McGregor fight, have been signed yet, much to the disappointment of ‘Blessed.’

I mean, it’s just, it sucks. Because, you know, it’s, of course, you don’t have nothing signed or whatever. So training camp is like, it looks like a regular training camp without a contract.

Max Holloway via UFC on Paramount

One would expect a training camp for a rematch 13 years in the making to be different from a run-of-the-mill training camp. However, with no confirmation from the UFC’s end, it appears Max Holloway was forced to be pragmatic. Nonetheless, the former featherweight wants to at least level the score against Conor McGregor.

The Hawaiian star had made that known earlier as well, expressing his desire to get “that one back.” The former featherweight also believes that the Irishman is looking “super hungry” as he gears up for his UFC return. Even so, the UFC has not confirmed the fight yet, but they may have hinted at it in a way that not many caught.

RELATED
Conor McGregor Promotes UFC 328 While Claiming Ownership of the 185lbs Gold

Max Holloway knocks out Conor McGregor in UFC 6 trailer

The latest edition of the UFC’s foray into gaming with EA Sports, UFC 6, drops next month. The cover features Max Holloway and Alex Pereira. Although Israel Adesanya jokingly argued recently that he was also featured on the cover, albeit not prominently.

Max Holloway
Max Holloway on the cover of EA Sports UFC 6 [via Aloha State Daily]

However, the UFC and EA Sports also released a video trailer for the game. It features Max Holloway displaying his granite chin against a flurry of Conor McGregor’s strikes before knocking him out with a clean combo. The clips ultimately wind down with UFC legends Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture staring each other down.

Couture had been missing from the games because of some ongoing issues with the UFC, but has now been included in a legends pack alongside MMA and WWE legend Ken Shamrock.

As one of the biggest stars in the UFC while being an avid gamer, Max Holloway featuring on the UFC 6 cover is no surprise. However, it is an unexpected twist of fate considering how much the Hawaiian disliked the last iteration of the UFC game. He gave the game a brutal -100/10 rating.

A few years ago, Max Holloway had revealed on the Joe Rogan Experience that he actually used the games to learn some new combinations. ‘Blessed’ told Joe Rogan that he didn’t have a dedicated striking coach early on in his career, so this was his only resort.

Regardless, as he waits for the official announcement of the Conor McGregor fight, Holloway can live out his revenge vicariously through the teaser. The clip itself seems to be mirroring real life, as oddsmakers have Holloway as a heavy favorite heading into the fight. Both Holloway and McGregor are coming off losses. However, given his extended absence, McGregor is a significant underdog in the rematch.

Also Read: