Max Holloway isn’t concerned about any size difference when he steps into the octagon on July 11.
The former UFC featherweight champion has been picked to welcome Conor McGregor back to the sport this summer.
Holloway, just a few months removed from a lightweight loss to Charles Oliveira, will make his welterweight debut in a rematch with McGregor.
McGregor already has experience at that weight class, having beaten both Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone there. While some see that as an edge for the Irishman, Holloway isn’t fazed by it.
Max Holloway unfazed by weight ahead of UFC 329 showdown
Holloway recently fought Ilia Topuria for the featherweight title, while McGregor hasn’t made the 145-pound cut since his knockout of Jose Aldo over a decade ago.
Since then, McGregor has noticeably added size during a five-year break that began with a broken leg suffered against Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
But during a recent video on his YouTube channel, Holloway dismissed any concern about fighting at an unfamiliar weight class.
“My thoughts on the fight being at 170 (pounds) was like, who cares?” Holloway said. “Weight is just a number. Real gladiators back in the day, they didn’t walk around with a scale.
“You show up and you fight, and I’m a fighter,” he continued. “Open weight class, whatever weight class — I’m glad I get to share the Octagon with him.”
Even without considering weight differences, Holloway is still expected to have the upper hand when they meet during International Fight Week in Las Vegas. That’s largely because of how little McGregor has fought in recent years.
After beating Eddie Alvarez in 2016 to become the UFC’s first dual-division champion, McGregor has only fought four times since then, winning just one of those bouts.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
