Chiesa Sees Holloway Earning Gaethje Rematch if He Beats McGregor at UFC 329

Q: Should a win over an inactive legend let Max Holloway jump the line for a coveted lightweight title shot?

Not on merit alone, but in the UFC’s reality, probably yes. A win over Conor McGregor would not be the cleanest sporting case for Max Holloway to leapfrog established lightweights. McGregor is 37, returning from a five-year layoff, coming off a major leg injury, and has not had a meaningful recent run. Beating that version of McGregor at welterweight would carry less competitive value than beating an active top-five lightweight contender. But Holloway’s case is stronger than just “he beat an inactive legend.” He already owns a major lightweight result: his dramatic knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300. That gives him a direct storyline with the current champion that few contenders can match. Michael Chiesa’s view reflects how UFC matchmaking often works: if Holloway adds McGregor’s name to his résumé, his leverage, visibility and commercial appeal would surge. That does not mean he should automatically go ahead of Charles Oliveira or Arman Tsarukyan, who have stronger recent claims inside the division. If the standard is pure meritocracy, Holloway should probably need one more lightweight win over a top contender. If the standard is the UFC’s usual mix of rankings, narrative and pay-per-view value, a McGregor win could reasonably put him into a three-man race for the next shot. So the fairest answer is that a McGregor victory alone should not guarantee Holloway a title shot, but combined with his knockout of Gaethje, it would make him a credible and very likely challenger.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jun 25

Michael Chiesa said a Max Holloway win over Conor McGregor at UFC 329 could put Holloway next in line for a rematch with lightweight champion Justin Gaethje.
Chiesa argued Gaethje would prefer to avenge Holloway’s last-second knockout at UFC 300 over facing Charles Oliveira again, with Arman Tsarukyan also in the title mix.
UFC 329 headlines July 11 in Las Vegas, where Holloway meets McGregor in a welterweight rematch despite the title implications Chiesa sees at lightweight.
Holloway enters as a sizable favorite against McGregor, who returns from a five-year layoff and the leg break that halted his previous run.
Chiesa said that comeback has shifted attention away from Holloway, even though beating the sport’s biggest star could reshape the 155-pound title picture.