UFC Champion, Max Holloway Shares a Touching Story About Conor McGregor

The rivalry between UFC featherweight champion, Max Holloway and the former tow-division champion, Conor McGregor goes long back. In 2013, a young Holloway fought McGregor who was only one fight into his UFC career. McGregor got his hands raised on that night by beating Holloway via unanimous decision. Since then both fighters have come a long way. While McGregor has conquered two divisions, Holloway has risen to become one of the greatest featherweight UFC has ever seen. However, there is still some friction between these two elite athletes of UFC as they have traded jabs on a few occasions in the past.

Recently when Holloway traveled to Ireland he made sure to visit the Jameson Whiskey factory, taunting the Irishman who owns the whiskey brand, Proper 12.

Holloway has ever wished for a rematch against McGregor to avenge his loss. However, at the end of the day, there is nothing but respect between these two fighters even after all the trash talk.

In a recent interview with MMA fighting, Holloway talked about why he still respects the Irishman:

“The way he talks is business, and business is business, I understand that point of business with someone. There might be a point where you cross a line where it’s not business anymore and it gets personal but he never did that. He never crossed that line. That’s what I respect about him. We do jab back and forth but it’s just business. We’re not taking any real jabs at anything real crazy. We didn’t cross that line.”

Max Holloway admitted that despite all the trash talk between McGregor and him, Conor has always been supportive of him. After Tony Ferguson was injured before the fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov, Max Holloway replaced Ferguson in the lightweight title fight. However, Holloway did not make it to the fight as he pulled out from the fight due to health issues. For a meaningful period, Holloway was not able to defend his featherweight title. During those tough times, McGregor showed support to Holloway.

“(Conor) the first one that asked me, that tweeted how everybody was saying this stuff but nobody was asking about how I was when the whole [Khabib Nurmagomedov] thing happened,” said Holloway.

”When the July thing happened(with Brian Ortega)and then even walking out to the Frankie Edgar fight, he showed me support. He has a heart.”  continued Holloway.

Conor McGregor is set to make his UFC return in the main event of UFC 246 against Donald Cerrone. While Max Holloway will defend his featherweight title in UFC 245.