{"id":62915,"date":"2026-05-06T22:22:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T02:22:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/ufc-fighter-holloway-training-for-mcgregor-bout-without-signed-contract\/"},"modified":"2026-05-06T22:22:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T02:22:09","slug":"ufc-fighter-holloway-training-for-mcgregor-bout-without-signed-contract","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/ufc-fighter-holloway-training-for-mcgregor-bout-without-signed-contract\/","title":{"rendered":"UFC Fighter Holloway Training for McGregor Bout Without Signed Contract"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway finds himself in an unusual position – training intensively for a bout that may never materialize.<\/p>

“I mean, it’s just, it sucks,” Holloway told Paramount+ during a recent interview. “I would just like to get one back.”<\/p>

The Hawaiian fighter is currently in training camp preparing for a possible July showdown with two-division champion Conor McGregor at UFC 329 in Las Vegas, despite the absence of any signed agreement.<\/p>

The ambiguity stems largely from uncertainty surrounding McGregor’s return to competition. The Irish superstar has been absent from the octagon since July 2021, and speculation about his comeback continues to swirl. While rumors suggested McGregor might appear on a summer card at the White House, his rumored opponent Michael Chandler will instead face Mauricio Ruffy.<\/p>

Despite the contractual limbo, Holloway remains determined to secure another opportunity against McGregor. Their initial encounter took place in 2013, resulting in a unanimous decision victory for McGregor, who suffered a torn ACL during the contest.<\/p>

“My head space is good, it’s straight,” Holloway explained. “I kinda know when I fight. We kinda know where we want to fight, why we want to fight, so just getting in the gym, getting there, getting it done.”<\/p>

“It’s a huge fight. Anything with Conor McGregor is huge, but having history with the dude, being able to get one back would be cool.”<\/p>

The 34-year-old Honolulu native is motivated to bounce back from his most recent outing – a lopsided unanimous decision loss to Charles Oliveira on March 7 that stripped him of the symbolic BMF title, awarded to the UFC’s “baddest” fighter.<\/p>

“You’re only as good as your last fight, they say, and we’re going to get everybody forgetting about that last fight as soon as possible,” Holloway stated.<\/p>

For McGregor, who became the first UFC athlete to simultaneously hold championships in two weight divisions (featherweight and lightweight), this would represent his return following a severe broken tibia and subsequent drug suspension that have kept “Notorious” sidelined for nearly five years.<\/p>

Given McGregor’s extended absence, oddsmakers would likely favor the 34-year-old Holloway over the 37-year-old former champion.<\/p>

“I mean, we have history,” Holloway reflected. “We fought a very long time ago. I told you guys, if somebody’s got one over me, I want to get him back. I’d love to get him back.”<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway is preparing for a potential July rematch with Conor McGregor despite having no official contract. The fighters previously met in 2013, with McGregor winning by unanimous decision.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":62914,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[836],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-62915","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1778120528973.jpg?fit=450%2C306&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-gmL","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":67784,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/conor-mcgregor-set-to-return-to-ufc-ring-after-nearly-four-year-absence\/","url_meta":{"origin":62915,"position":0},"title":"Conor McGregor Set to Return to UFC Ring After Nearly Four-Year Absence","author":"Admin","date":"May 17, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor will return to competition on July 11 in Las Vegas against Max Holloway. The Irish fighter hasn't competed since suffering a broken leg in July 2021 against Dustin Poirier.","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1778995340479.jpg?fit=450%2C335&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":94344,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/mcgregors-ufc-comeback-ends-in-seconds-after-knee-gives-out-against-holloway\/","url_meta":{"origin":62915,"position":1},"title":"McGregor’s UFC Comeback Ends in Seconds After Knee Gives Out Against Holloway","author":"Admin","date":"July 12, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Conor McGregor's long-awaited return to the UFC ended almost before it began Saturday night in Las Vegas, when the Irish fighter suffered a serious knee injury just over a minute into the opening round. McGregor, who hadn't competed since breaking his leg in 2021, attempted a flying kick that went\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783833431854.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":65635,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/irish-fighter-mcgregor-close-to-ufc-return-deal-for-summer-bout\/","url_meta":{"origin":62915,"position":2},"title":"Irish Fighter McGregor Close to UFC Return Deal for Summer Bout","author":"Admin","date":"May 12, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor appears close to finalizing his return to the UFC octagon after a three-year absence. Multiple sources indicate the Irish fighter is negotiating a summer rematch against Max Holloway for July.","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1778628142596.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":72342,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/top-ufc-lightweights-saint-denis-and-pimblett-set-for-vegas-showdown\/","url_meta":{"origin":62915,"position":3},"title":"Top UFC Lightweights Saint Denis and Pimblett Set for Vegas Showdown","author":"Admin","date":"May 26, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Two highly-ranked UFC lightweight fighters will clash on July 11 in Las Vegas as part of the McGregor vs. Holloway 2 event. The matchup features No. 5 Benoit Saint Denis against No. 6 Paddy Pimblett at T-Mobile Arena.","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1779844913186.jpg?fit=450%2C302&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":94572,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/ufc-329-holloway-stops-mcgregor-in-round-1-sets-betmgm-betting-record\/","url_meta":{"origin":62915,"position":4},"title":"UFC 329: Holloway Stops McGregor in Round 1, Sets BetMGM Betting Record","author":"Admin","date":"July 12, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Max Holloway needed just over a minute to finish Conor McGregor at UFC 329 on Saturday, but the fight still generated historic betting numbers. BetMGM reported it was the most-wagered MMA event in the sportsbook's history, with the majority of bettors backing McGregor despite him being the underdog. Holloway's victory\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783901822862.jpg?fit=450%2C304&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":94587,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/mcgregors-knee-gives-out-after-first-kick-at-ufc-329-coach-says-no-prior-injury\/","url_meta":{"origin":62915,"position":5},"title":"McGregor’s Knee Gives Out After First Kick at UFC 329, Coach Says No Prior Injury","author":"Admin","date":"July 12, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"UFC fighter Conor McGregor's return bout against Max Holloway ended in just 69 seconds after he suffered a knee injury on his very first kick. 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