Max Holloway: 'I’d do anything for that rematch' with Conor McGregor

Although Max Holloway may be the lone fighter at featherweight who genuinely respects Conor McGregor, it doesn't mean he isn't itching for another chance to throw fists with the brash Irishman.

"I'd do anything for that rematch," Holloway told MMAjunkie.com's Mike Bohn. "It's going to happen. McGregor is a cool dude. He has nothing but respect for me. Every time someone brings up my name in interviews, he talks some good stuff. I think I earned his respect."

The two originally met at UFC Fight Night 26 in 2013, with McGregor thoroughly dominating Holloway en route to a one-sided unanimous decision victory. It was the first time one of McGregor's wins had gone to the scorecards, a definite feather in Holloway's cap that was quickly dismissed when it was revealed McGregor had suffered an ACL injury in the second round.

"Everyone always says this and that about the first fight, but he cried about an injury that he had at the end of the second round," Holloway said, before referencing the sprained ankle he suffered early in the opening round. "I didn't cry about no injury. I had an injury in the first 30 seconds of the fight and I fought him all the way to a decision. He had two rounds to finish me and he couldn't get it done.

"If he wants to get it done and he wants to get that back, then give me a rematch and we'll see what happens," Holloway continued. "If he wins his next fight and I win my fight, we'll see what happens. Maybe we could do that rematch. I would love to get back at him. The first fight was great and the second fight is going to be even better."

While McGregor turned his victory into an eventual title shot with 145-pound kingpin Jose Aldo, Holloway racked up an impressive winning streak of his own, and faces a stern test in Cub Swanson at UFC on FOX on April 15. A victory over Swanson, coupled with a McGregor loss to Aldo at UFC 189, could perfectly set up a second meeting between "Blessed" and "Notorious."