Conor McGregor has outlined an ambitious long-term plan, targeting a rematch against Max Holloway in 2027, which he intends to be the final bout of his current UFC contract.
The Irish fighter, 38, signalled his intentions via an Instagram post referencing the UFC’s International Fight Week, stating: “What was to be a generational beating is now to be reset. IFW 2027. The Last Dance.”
This proposed trilogy fight follows McGregor’s recent defeat to Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas on 11 July.
In a welterweight contest, Holloway, 34, secured a technical knockout victory in just 69 seconds after McGregor sustained a right knee injury from an an early kick. Their first encounter in August 2013 saw McGregor emerge victorious by unanimous decision.
McGregor is currently facing surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament, an injury that likely dictates the extended wait for the rematch.
Despite the fighter recently sharing a video of leg exercises, UFC president Dana White confirmed on Sunday that “Conor McGregor’s out for a year.”
The July 11 fight marked McGregor’s return to the Octagon after a five-year hiatus, following a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. He has now lost his last three bouts and four of his past five. Holloway, meanwhile, had previously lost a unanimous decision to Charles Oliveira at UFC 326 in March before his win against McGregor.
McGregor’s career has been plagued by inactivity in recent years as he has only fought five times since becoming a two-weight champion by beating Eddie Alvarez in November 2016.
The following year, McGregor switched to boxing to face Floyd Mayweather in a money-spinning contest. McGregor started well before fading as Mayweather picked up a 10th-round knockout win.
McGregor returned to the UFC in 2018, but suffered a fourth-round submission loss to bitter rival Khabib Nurmagomedov.
He appeared to have got back on track by beating Donald Cerrone inside a round in January 2020, but he was then knocked out by Poirier a year later, before losing their rematch six months later when he broke his leg in the first round.
He was scheduled to return in 2024 against Michael Chandler but was forced to pull out with a toe injury, before he finally did make his comeback against Holloway earlier this month, only for the bout to be cut short by another injury setback.
