Conor McGregor calls for third UFC fight against Max Holloway in 2027

What the report says

Al Jazeera, citing Reuters, reported that Conor McGregor is calling for another fight with Max Holloway in 2027 after their July 11 bout at UFC 329 in Las Vegas ended quickly because of McGregor’s knee injury. In an Instagram post published Monday, McGregor referred to UFC International Fight Week next July and described the proposed matchup as “IFW 2027” and “The Last Dance,” suggesting it would be the final fight on his current UFC contract.

Holloway defeated McGregor by technical knockout just 69 seconds into their welterweight contest after McGregor hurt his right knee while throwing an early kick. The fight was the second meeting between the two; McGregor won their first encounter by unanimous decision in August 2013. A third fight would therefore serve as both a rematch of the recent abbreviated bout and a decider in their head-to-head series.

The report said McGregor, 38, is expected to undergo surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament, which helps explain the lengthy timetable he is proposing. UFC president Dana White said Sunday that McGregor would be out for a year, according to the article. McGregor had recently posted a video showing leg exercises, but his recovery remains central to whether any 2027 return can happen.

The development matters because McGregor remains one of UFC’s most prominent names despite a long absence and a difficult recent record. UFC 329 marked his first Octagon appearance in five years, following a 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier. Al Jazeera reported that McGregor has now lost three straight fights and four of his last five, while Holloway rebounded from a March decision loss to Charles Oliveira by beating him.