Just one month away from their blockbuster fight at UFC 329, Conor McGregor and Max Holloway shared a brief back-and-forth virtual call mediated by UFC commentator and podcaster Joe Rogan, part of which aired in between fights at UFC Freedom 250 on the White House South Lawn.
The clip showed both fighters talking over each other, trying to win the war of words. In between them was Joe Rogan, who seemed to be reveling in the trash talk and trying his best not to laugh whenever the fighters said something witty.
(Via UFC on Paramount+ on X):
"No disrespect, Max. You're not going to lay a glove on me,” McGregor said in the beginning of the short clip. “Even if you do, I'm going to laugh in your face. It's another world here against me, and it's another world at this weight. I'm going to come out of this bout unscathed and in all glory. ... I'm going to come out of this bout unscathed."
Holloway was quick to fire back, saying, “We talk about ancestors, we talk about warriors, but I’m the Hawaiian warrior, brother. I’m going to touch your face over and over again, brother.”
McGregor refers to their first fight at UFC Fight Night 26 back in August 2013 at the TD Garden in Boston, which he won handily:
“He got son’d in the Octagon, in Boston. I put my big Irish paws on your face, and I’m going to do it again,” he quipped.
Holloway, not one to take the insult lying down, responded with an interesting tidbit about their first fight.
“Blessed” responded with a rhetorical question of his own, saying, “Did you know, Joe, that he did say that he was going to strike with me the whole time, but he got injured in the fight and went for a takedown?”
Rogan asked Holloway, who has never fought at welterweight, about his feelings going into a fight at 170 lbs.
“Brother, this is just another fight. This is just another fight. You keep talking about weight this weight that, I’ve been the smallest guy in my gym most of the time throughout my career, so I can’t wait for it, man.”
Holloway also commented on McGregor momentarily leaving the video call.
“He left because he’s all f— zoomed up. I can’t wait, just show up July 11, brother. Oh, he’s back! There it is. Yes sir,” Holloway joked, eliciting laughter out of both Rogan and McGregor.
The two ended the call with a show of respect, with Holloway saying, “It’s all love always, Conor. Just can't wait, bruh. I’ll see you on July 11th, Ninth Island. It’s going to be fun.”
“All love, bro, all love,” McGregor responded.
McGregor ended the call with one last message to the camera, saying, “McGregor’s back baby! See you on July 11th! God bless!”
