Holloway Calls McGregor 'Delusional' Over UFC 329 Claims

Max Holloway says Conor McGregor is "delusional" for claiming he was on the verge of delivering a "generational beating" before tearing his ACL in the first minute of their UFC 329 main event.

McGregor suffered a serious knee injury just seconds into the October rematch, leading referees to wave off the fight and hand Holloway a TKO victory. McGregor has since suggested dry ice used in his walkout made the canvas slippery and insisted he had a dominant performance in him before the injury hit.

Holloway isn't buying it.

What Did Max Holloway Say About Conor McGregor?

Holloway used his YouTube channel to directly dispute McGregor's version of events. "I don't know what he's talking about because I didn't fall," Holloway said, addressing the slippery-canvas claim. He was even more pointed about McGregor's "generational beating" comment, calling the Irishman "delusional" and adding, "To me, he felt slow in there. He felt slow; he looked old."

Holloway went further, arguing the finish reflected real damage he'd already done in the brief exchange before the injury. "I had the man weak in the knees from the beginning, I guess," he said, while also noting he felt for fans who paid to see a full fight play out.

What's Next for Holloway and McGregor?

McGregor is expected to be sidelined for close to a year recovering from the ACL tear, and he has already floated a trilogy fight with Holloway for next summer. Holloway said he's open to it, but he's not waiting around. "If it's Conor next year, great. If it's a title shot in some type of weight class, great," he said. He pointed to his recent 170-pound cameo and the friction it created, and floated a rematch with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev as another live option, saying flatly he'd take a shot at either the welterweight or lightweight belt if the UFC offers it.

Nothing is booked yet beyond the public back-and-forth. Holloway made clear he's ready to move in whichever direction the promotion decides, McGregor trilogy or a title opportunity, and framed himself as simply waiting on the call.

For bettors, this one is still purely a verbal sparring match with no fight on the books, so there's no line to react to yet. But McGregor's extended recovery timeline means any actual rematch is a 2026 proposition at the earliest, and Holloway's insistence that he was already winning the fight before the injury will likely shape how sportsbooks and bettors initially price him as a favorite whenever that trilogy fight is finally made official.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Max Holloway say about Conor McGregor after UFC 329?

Max Holloway called Conor McGregor 'delusional' for claiming he was about to deliver a 'generational beating,' saying McGregor 'felt slow' and 'looked old' before tearing his ACL early in their fight.

What happened between Max Holloway and Conor McGregor at UFC 329?

Conor McGregor suffered a serious knee injury in the opening moments of his UFC 329 main event rematch with Max Holloway, and the fight was stopped, giving Holloway a TKO victory.

Will Max Holloway and Conor McGregor fight again?

Conor McGregor has said he wants a trilogy fight with Max Holloway next summer while he recovers from his knee injury, and Holloway has said he is open to it, though nothing is officially booked.