Max Holloway wouldn’t mind trading barbs with Conor McGregor prior to UFC 329: “If he wants to go that route, I’d love to tussle”

Max Holloway isn’t opposed to exchanging some trash talk with Conor McGregor if need be.

“Blessed” and the “Notorious” one are scheduled to share the Octagon in the UFC 329 main event on July 11. The two first collided all the way back in 2013. McGregor defeated Holloway via unanimous decision before the two ascended into superstardom. Fast forward to 2026, and the two are surefire UFC Hall of Famers.

While McGregor and Holloway have exchanged pleasantries in the past, “Blessed” knows that the Irishman utilizes his mic skills effectively. In a new video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Holloway said that he’s willing to hurl insults right back at “Mystic Mac” (via MMAFighting).

“Conor McGregor is Conor McGregor,” Holloway said. “I think he’ll be respectful to a certain point, but dude has the gift of gab. So, if he starts talking, you might actually see a little bit of Waiʻanae boy come out of me for this one. Because not many of you guys know, if you guys want to shit-talk, I love shit-talking too, I just don’t do it that much. But if he wants to go that route, I’d love to tussle.”

Holloway believes that his showdown with McGregor will be one that fans will remember for quite some time.

“I think fans are in for a treat with this fight,” Holloway said. “Two strikers, fun fight. Two mixed martial artists. It’s going to be great, at a weight where me and him are both gonna come in healthy. It’s going to be a fun fight, I think.”

McGregor hasn’t been seen in action since breaking his leg in a trilogy bout against the now retired Dustin Poirier, who Holloway defeated back in July 2025. McGregor has insisted that he feels better than ever and he wants to prove it.

Do you think the pre-fight build for Max Holloway vs. Conor McGregor will be more entraining than the fight itself, or are you expecting a barnburner? Let us know in the comments below.