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Max Holloway has weighed in on Conor McGregor's verbal jabs, simply urging him to "please show up" for UFC 329.
Holloway is perfectly fine with Conor McGregor's antics and trash talk, as long as it culminates with both of them stepping into the octagon at UFC 329.
McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) has made numerous bold statements in the lead-up to his first fight in five years, scheduled for July 11 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The former two-division champion will face Holloway (27-9 MMA, 23-9 UFC) in a five-round welterweight rematch, nearly 13 years after their initial encounter.
The Irishman won their first clash by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 26 in August 2013, predominantly using grappling to secure the victory after tearing his ACL in the first round.
Holloway, 34, has heard all the talk before, and it doesn't faze him. In fact, he believes McGregor, 37, is using it to build his own confidence after such a long absence from competition. Holloway has no issue with that, as long as it gets the Irishman into the octagon for UFC 329.
"Whatever he needs to tell himself to get into the octagon on Saturday night, let him keep telling himself. Just, please, show up on Saturday night. Conor has a gift for gab and loves to talk. Maybe he's talking to get himself ready. I support him 100 percent. I, Max 'Blessed' Holloway, endorse that message. Keep talking. I can't wait to see you on Saturday night."
"Him saying I'm not a different fighter and all that... whatever. Keep telling yourself what you need to. I just need him to come and show up on July 11th, and get into that octagon. Then we'll find out if he's right or not."
Holloway believes that UFC 329 will showcase the best version of McGregor to ever step into the UFC octagon.
"A lot of people keep writing Conor off, which to me is insane," Holloway said. "They're writing 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 is following him with a camera 24/7. You truly don't know what he's doing. Just because they show the bad things about him. We don't know about the good. I know this because every time during camp, when I'm playing for two hours a day, people say, 'You need to train.' And that's after all my training."
"Ultimately, I'm preparing for a dangerous Conor McGregor. I think it's going to be a healthy Conor McGregor. It's going to be the best version we've ever seen, and that's what excites me. The best Conor McGregor I'll see on July 11th. We're going to go out there and do the things I know I can and will do to him. It's going to be a great night."
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