Holloway Predicts Trilogy, While Conor Foresees Retirement

Conor McGregor has never shied away from bold predictions for his fights, but he was clearly unimpressed after hearing Max Holloway call for a trilogy bout, especially with McGregor already planning a victory at UFC 329 this Saturday. Ahead of their highly anticipated rematch, Holloway initially stated he would make McGregor regret his return to fighting, but later softened his stance. Instead, the former featherweight champion expressed his desire to defeat McGregor on Saturday, but to leave him with enough hope to believe he "could do it again, so we can have another fight at the end of the year."

McGregor found no humor in this comment and is now convinced that Holloway is only facing him for the largest possible payday before ultimately retiring from combat sports.

"I find it disrespectful," McGregor stated regarding Holloway's comments during the UFC 329 press conference. "I think it shows he's here for the economic side of things. He clearly doesn't realize the danger he's in. I predict Holloway's retirement on Saturday night. Not a trilogy for money."

Despite five years having passed since McGregor's last fight, he has clearly not lost an ounce of his usual self-confidence during his absence. In fact, McGregor didn't resort to his usual "Mystic Mac" prediction, but instead listed the various ways he could dismantle and finish Holloway within the 25-minute bout.

"I can destroy Max in 10 seconds," McGregor said. "I have three-second knockouts on my fight record. I've beaten and destroyed Hall of Fame fighters, several of them, UFC Hall of Famers, and I've done it all in under a minute. I can add Max to that list. But don't get me wrong – if we get into deep waters, Max will be in serious trouble. He'll be severely rocked."

While their first fight in 2013 unfolded unusually, with a lot of grappling over three rounds after McGregor tore his ACL and Holloway suffered an ankle injury, the rematch promises a serious striking spectacle.

It's impossible to forget the brutal knockout Holloway delivered to the new undisputed UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje at UFC 300. He also boasts a long list of opponents who have fallen victim to his impressive striking skills. Of course, McGregor is well-known for his spectacular knockouts and scoffed at the idea that Holloway has established himself as the best boxer in the UFC.

"I think his boxing is terrible," McGregor said. "I don't rate it at all. He only has one speed, and it's not impressive. We've very rarely seen magic in the Octagon from Max Holloway. Little evil Holloway. He'll be destroyed on Saturday night."

Whether the fight ends in the first round or goes deep into the fifth, McGregor promises he's ready for anything Holloway can throw at him – including the infamous pointing to the canvas in the final 10 seconds, should the bout reach that point.

"With ease," McGregor replied when asked if he was ready to meet Holloway in the center of the Octagon and engage in an open exchange. "With ease and with pleasure."

When it's all over, McGregor expects many interesting headlines to be written about his return, but even before the fight with Holloway on Saturday, he offered one of his own.

"Mac is back, and fully," McGregor said. "We're back! We're fully back – that's the headline."