McGregor proposes final UFC bout against Holloway in 2027
Conor McGregor has publicly called for a third fight with Max Holloway in July 2027, describing it as the last contest of his UFC contract. The proposal comes in the wake of a swift defeat and significant knee injury at UFC 329.
Conor McGregor has outlined a long-term strategy for his career, seeking a rematch against Max Holloway that would serve as the final bout of his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) contract. In an Instagram post referencing the organisation’s International Fight Week in July 2027, McGregor wrote, “What was to be a generational beating is now to be reset. IFW 2027. The Last Dance.”
The proposal follows McGregor’s 69-second technical knockout loss to Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas on July 11, 2026. During the welterweight contest, McGregor sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee after an early kick, leading to a swift defeat for the Irish fighter. The two athletes previously met in August 2013, where McGregor won by unanimous decision.
McGregor, aged 38, is scheduled to undergo surgery to repair the injury. UFC president Dana White confirmed on Sunday that McGregor will be out of competition for approximately one year following the procedure. Although McGregor recently shared a video on Instagram demonstrating leg exercises, White’s timeline suggests a longer recovery period before a potential return to the Octagon.
The July 2026 contest marked McGregor’s first appearance in the Octagon in five years, following a technical knockout loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. McGregor has now lost each of his past three bouts and four of his past five fights. The defeat at UFC 329 came after Holloway, a native of Honolulu, had dropped a unanimous decision to Charles Oliveira at UFC 326 in March 2026.
While McGregor has framed the potential 2027 matchup as a definitive conclusion to his UFC tenure, the bout remains a proposal rather than an official agreement. It has not yet been confirmed by the UFC or agreed upon by Holloway, who is currently preparing for his next contest following the victory in Las Vegas.
