Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway — Fight recap

Conor McGregor defeated Max Holloway via unanimous decision over three rounds on August 17, 2013, with referee Herb Dean overseeing the bout. McGregor's wrestling prowess proved decisive, landing 4 of 5 takedown attempts for an 80% success rate while controlling the cage for 6:26.

Though neither fighter landed with exceptional accuracy—McGregor connected on 53 of 153 significant strikes (34%) compared to Holloway's 23 of 93 (24%)—the Irish prospect's grappling dominance and control time separated the two featherweights across all three rounds. McGregor's leg strikes (15 of 23) and head strikes (34 of 113) kept Holloway on his heels, while Holloway managed no takedown attempts and accumulated zero control time.

The victory showcased McGregor's developing mixed martial arts arsenal and foreshadowed his rise through the featherweight division.