Holloway Urges McGregor to Appear at UFC 329 Amidst Verbal Exchanges

As the highly anticipated rematch at UFC 329Competition·UFC 329 draws near, Max HollowayPlayer·Max Holloway has addressed the extensive verbal exchanges initiated by Conor McGregorPlayer·Conor McGregor, urging his opponent to simply "please, show up" for their welterweight clash. The bout, scheduled for July 11 at the T-Mobile ArenaVenue·T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, marks McGregor's return to competition after a five-year hiatus.

Holloway, 34, expressed that he is unperturbed by McGregor's characteristic pre-fight rhetoric. He views the 37-year-old Irishman's bold statements as a strategy to build confidence following such a significant period away from the sport. For Holloway, the entertainment value of the verbal sparring is secondary to the assurance that McGregor will indeed step into the octagon.

"Whatever gets him to the octagon on Saturday night, let him keep telling himself that," Holloway stated. "Just, please, show up on Saturday night. Conor has a gift for gab and loves to talk. Maybe he talks to prepare himself. I support him 100 percent. I, Max 'Blessed' Holloway, support that message. Keep talking. I can't wait to see you on Saturday night."

Their first encounter took place nearly 13 years ago at UFC Fight Night 26Competition·UFC Fight Night 26 in August 2013. In that initial lightweight contest, McGregor secured a unanimous decision victory over Holloway, notably relying on grappling after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the first round. This history adds another layer of intrigue to their upcoming five-round battle.

Holloway remains focused on the fight itself, dismissing any claims that he is an unchanged fighter. "Him saying I'm no different a fighter and so on... Whatever, whatever. Keep telling yourself what you need to," Holloway remarked. "I just need him to come and show up on July 11, and get into that octagon. Then we'll find out if he's right or not."

Despite McGregor's extended absence, Holloway anticipates facing the most formidable version of the former two-division champion. "Many people continue to write Conor off, which to me is insane," Holloway observed. "They write him off because of the five years. But in my opinion, those are five years he's been able to rest. People say, 'No, you see him partying. You see him doing this and that.' But, brother, nobody follows him with a camera 24/7. You really don't know what he's doing. Just because they show the bad things about him. We don't know about the good ones."

He concluded with a confident outlook on the impending clash: "Ultimately, I'm preparing for a dangerous Conor McGregorPlayer·Conor McGregor. I think it's going to be a healthy Conor McGregorPlayer·Conor McGregor. It's going to be the best version we've ever seen, and that's what excites me. The best Conor McGregorPlayer·Conor McGregor I will see on July 11. We'll go out there and do the things I know I can and will do to him. It's going to be a great night."