On August 17, 2013, Conor McGregor, then 25, faced 21-year-old Hawaiian prospect Max Holloway at UFC Fight Night 26 in Boston. It was the second UFC appearance for both fighters, and neither had yet won UFC gold. McGregor arrived with a reputation as a dangerous striker, while Holloway was a young featherweight prospect still developing. Their bout became an early key stage in the careers of two fighters who went on to shape the division.
McGregor entered the octagon known for his striking, but the fight took an unexpected turn. He injured his left knee during the bout, later identified as an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Afterward, he relied more on takedowns and ground control, changing his approach instead of withdrawing and completing the contest despite the injury.
The official scorecards read 30-27, 30-27 and 30-26 for McGregor. UFC Stats recorded a 71-32 advantage in total strikes and a 53-23 lead in impressive strikes. He also completed four takedowns, showing that his performance extended beyond stand-up exchanges. McGregor capped the victory with a post-fight call to UFC president Dana White: “Dana, 60 G’s!” The request was for a performance-related bonus, separate from the official result.
The win came before McGregor’s rise to championship success. He later became the first fighter to hold UFC featherweight and lightweight titles simultaneously. The Boston injury interrupted his progress, but the bout showed his game could extend beyond knockout striking: when circumstances changed, he used wrestling and ground control to secure the decision.
Holloway’s defeat did not define the limits of his career. He later became UFC featherweight champion and established himself as one of the division’s most accomplished fighters, including a 14-fight winning streak at featherweight. Their first meeting is an early-career marker for both men: McGregor earned the decision, while Holloway went on to build his own championship legacy.
Their professional series later stood at 1-1 after another meeting ended at 1:09 of the first round, with Holloway awarded a TKO victory following a right-knee injury to McGregor. Reports said the later injury involved the ACL and meniscus, contrasting with the left-knee ACL injury McGregor suffered in Boston. UFC CEO Dana White said after that bout, “We’re assuming a blown ACL,” and indicated McGregor could be unavailable for about a year. The two encounters became linked by both the fighters’ rivalry and injuries to opposite knees.
Recent coverage has brought the rivalry back into focus. Reporting on the announced UFC 329 basic event, official reports on the UFC 329 weigh-in said McGregor and Holloway both made weight, clearing a basic pre-fight key stage.
UFC Fight Night 26 took place at Boston’s TD Garden. What began as a matchup between two rising featherweights became a impressive point in both fighters’ histories: McGregor’s unanimous decision showed his ability to adapt, while Holloway’s later title run charted his own progression. The bout’s scorecards, striking totals and four takedowns help explain why the Boston contest remains more than a record of who won. It captures an early stage in two championship careers.
