In 2013, Conor McGregor debuted in the UFC vs. Marcus Brimage and won “60 G’s, baby.” Then he fought Max Holloway, winning a decision. Thereafter, McGregor went on an unprecedented tear, winning performance bonuses in his next eight fights in a row and picking up two UFC belts. The bonus streak ended only with the loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 in 2018.

Holloway too went on a tear, winning 13 in a row, taking the interim featherweight belt, unifying it, and successfully defending it three times. However, 2019 and 2020 were rough on “Blessed” as he lost a short-notice interim lightweight title fight, lost his featherweight belt to Alexander Volkanovski, and lost the immediate rematch, albeit by Split Decision.

Then things turned for Holloway. In the main event of UFC on ABC 1, he put on a record-setting performance vs. Calvin Kattar. Khabib Nurmagomedov was so impressed he said Max may in time become the GOAT. And in a recent interview with The Mac Life, McGregor said a rematch is in the pipeline.

I thought it was a solid performance, said McGregor. He fought an up-and-comer; he done well. I was actually doing an interview and he skateboarded by the window. I was like, ‘Is that Max Holloway?’ He’s obviously hanging around, and fair play to him. He’s definitely in the pipeline for a bout against me. I would happily rematch Max, and after a performance like that, he’s put himself right up there.

He’s a tall lad. He’s taller than me, so he could build up. He’s only fought at 155 once. It was against Dustin. He was a bit out-powered, but he could certainly do it. Against other lightweights? You never know. But the rematch would be 155, for sure.

Holloway went viral when mid-fight vs. Kattar he started explaining to the commentary team that he was the best boxer in MMA. McGregor disagrees.

He’s not the best boxer, said McGregor. It’s no question, and I’ll prove that on [Saturday]. Let’s see what he says Sunday morning.

h/t Mike Bohn for MMA Junkie