Potential fight with Conor McGregor depends 'on their team' says Max Holloway following UFC 218 victory
KEY POINTS
- Holloway defeated Aldo to retain his featherweight title.
- "Blessed" extended his winning streak to 12 straight victories.
- The Hawaiian last suffered defeat to McGregor in August 2013.
Following his UFC 218 win over Jose Aldo, featherweight champion Max Holloway claimed a potential rematch with Conor McGregor is dependent on the Irishman's team.
Holloway completed his first successful title defence when he defeated long-time champion Aldo via TKO in the third round on Saturday (2 December).
It extended the Hawaiian's impressive winning streak to 12 straight wins, having last suffered defeat to McGregor via unanimous decision all the way back in August 2013.
A rematch between the two has long been campaigned for by the fans and media, with Holloway repeatedly stating that he would be happy to gain revenge on the lightweight champion if a fight was offered.
However, in the UFC 218 post-fight press conference, "Blessed" revealed that an agreement has to come from McGregor's side if a rematch is to happen.
"Yeah, for sure," Holloway said when asked if he would like a rematch. "Like I said, I'm the champion of my division and I've got to keep everything rolling. I've got to keep everything going. I've got a throne to defend. I'm not going on hiatus. As long as I get contenders, I'm going to fight."
"But if the UFC call me out for that reason, any reason for fighting him [McGregor], I'll gladly fight him. If the Conor fight don't happen, it's not on my side. I'll tell you guys right now. It's not on my side. It's on their team."
As of now, there is no update on whether McGregor will even return to the octagon with UFC president Dana White recently stating that the possibility of the "Notorious" never fighting again was real.
Holloway, who criticised McGregor in November for never defending his belt, does not seem to think a meeting with the 29-year-old will happen, especially as McGregor was open to facing boxer Paulie Malignaggi in the octagon rather than an actual mixed martial artist.
"Their team is talking about me all the time, talking about how I'm the best guy in the world blah blah and this and that," Holloway added. "Right now, Conor - now, really think about this - right now Conor is talking about fighting Paulie Malignaggi in MMA."
"Let that sink in, you know. Paulie Malignaggi in MMA! I don't know what to say."
