Conor McGregor has praised Max Holloway for becoming ‘way better’ since the pair’s clash over 10 years ago.
McGregor was victorious over the American in just his second bout for Dana White’s promotion at a UFC Fight Night event in 2013.
Getty – ContributorBoth men were at the beginning of their UFC careers back in 2013[/caption]
It was Holloway’s third defeat in five UFC fights, but the last he would experience before embarking on a 13-fight win streak.
This follows comments from current UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, who mocked Holloway for losing to McGregor by calling the defeat an embarrassment.
Toupuria defends his featherweight belt for the first time against Holloway at UFC 308 on October 26.
The Spaniard said he would be the first man to ever knockout Holloway in a face-to-face interview last week.
“It’s not a bad shout but Holloway came back and earned it majorly,” McGregor said on X in response to Topuria.
“Two time featherweight champion. Attempted double champ. Is current BMF champ. Nah he the real deal. Always was, always is.”
After his loss to McGregor, Holloway wouldn’t taste defeat in the octagon for another six years.
This included a run as the UFC’s featherweight champion which he claimed for the first time by defeating Anthony Pettis in December 2016.
“1000% he became way better after losing to me,” McGregor added.
“He actually became an all time great after losing to me. This is a stellar fight folks! He took moves as well with him.
Topuria knocked out Volkanovski at UFC 298 to be crowned the new championGetty
“He became ambidextrous after fighting me. He can fight in both stances now as good as each other.”
After his featherweight triumph, ‘Blessed’ then defended his belt in consecutive bouts with Jose Aldo, before overcoming Brian Ortega to make it four title defences in a row.
In the form of his life, the Hawaiin native then stepped up to lightweight to try and become a two-division UFC champion.
Although he would lose via unanimous-decision over five rounds to Dustin Poirier in April 2019, Holloway proceeded to defend his precious featherweight title again against Frankie Edgar.
That would be the last fight ‘Blessed’ was crowned a UFC champion in, as he proceeded to lose a trilogy of title fights against Alexander Volkanovski.
Holloway earned another shot at a title after he spectacularly knocked out Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 to become the new BMF champion.
Now, he has the chance at UFC gold once again as he fights Topuria, who knocked out Volkanovski to claim the belt for the first time.
Holloway knocked out Gaethje at UFC 300 to earn his title shotGetty
McGregor also had some advice for Topuria, who is yet to lose in the UFC.
He said: “He [Holloway] will be very hard to catch for the little man. Don’t walk into a crushing blow bro.
“He is strong too. And very experienced! 100%! Big fight feel for me here, folks! Oh yes let’s go!”
UFC 308 also sees No.3 ranked middleweight Robert Whittaker take on the returning Khamzat Chimaev in the co-main event.
Meanwhile England’s Lerone Murphy takes on Dan Ige in a featherweight bout and Magomed Ankalaev challenges Aleksandar Rakic at light heavyweight.
UFC Fight Night returns this weekend as America’s Anthony Hernandez faces Michel Pereira in the headline bout.