Max Holloway’s Next UFC Fight in Flux as Dana White Shuts Down McGregor Trilogy Talk

Max Holloway’s next move is up in the air after UFC president Dana White shut down talk of a trilogy with Conor McGregor.

What happened?

Conor McGregor suffered a brutal knee injury in his UFC 329 main event against Max Holloway on 14 Jun 2025, finishing the fight after just 69 seconds via TKO. Holloway won the first bout in 2013 and lost the second last weekend, though McGregor has since pushed for the result to be overturned to a no contest. McGregor, who has one fight left on his UFC contract, wants that final bout to be against Holloway again. But White isn’t biting.

Why it matters for Max Holloway

White’s refusal to even entertain a trilogy fight leaves Holloway’s next steps wide open. The Hawaiian star has already told reporters he’d take a title shot against Justin Gaethje if McGregor isn’t his next opponent. Holloway stopped Gaethje by knockout at UFC 300 on 13 Apr 2024, so the matchup would pit two former champions against each other. But White’s comments suggest the UFC brass isn’t prioritizing personal grudges over matchmaking logic.

And White didn’t hold back. “Not even thinking about it,” he said on the Spinnin Backfist MMA Show on 18 Jul 2025. “Conor still has to have knee surgery and go through everything he’s going to have to go through. I understand he’s very unhappy with the way [expletive] played out but you’re a human being, you’re older, you haven’t fought in five years and Father Time is undefeated.”

What comes next?

Holloway’s camp hasn’t signaled a clear next opponent. A trilogy with McGregor would’ve been the obvious draw, but White’s stance removes that option for now. Gaethje, meanwhile, remains the lightweight champion and a willing title challenger. Holloway’s last outing ended in a split decision loss to Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 on 9 Mar 2024, so another high-profile win could put him back in title contention.

White also hinted at other possibilities for McGregor, including grudge matches against Michael Chandler or Dustin Poirier. But the Irishman’s focus is squarely on Holloway. “It has to be Holloway,” McGregor posted on social media after UFC 329, before his injury sidelined him. His return timeline remains uncertain, with surgery and rehab ahead.

For Holloway, the path forward looks just as murky. The UFC’s matchmakers will decide his next fight, and White’s comments suggest they won’t bend to fan pressure or fighter demands. That could mean a title shot, a high-profile welterweight clash, or another step down the ladder. One thing’s certain: Holloway won’t wait forever.