UFC 329: Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway 2 Preview & Prediction
The most anticipated comeback in combat sports is finally here, as returning superstar Conor McGregor runs it back with Max Holloway at welterweight, over a decade after their first meeting.
Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway 2 facts
What time are Conor McGregor and Max Holloway 2 expected to walk out?
Where is UFC 329: McGregor vs Holloway 2? T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC 329: McGregor vs Holloway 2? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC 329
What TV channel is UFC 329: McGregor vs Holloway 2 on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC 329: McGregor vs Holloway 2? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC 329: McGregor vs Holloway 2 main card
Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway 2 (Welterweight)
Benoit Saint-Denis vs Paddy Pimblett (Lightweight)
Cory Sandhagen vs Mario Bautista (Bantamweight)
Brandon Royval vs Lone'er Kavanagh (Flyweight)
King Green vs Terrance McKinney (Lightweight)
UFC 329: McGregor vs Holloway 2 prelims
Robert Whittaker vs Nikita Krylov (Light Heavyweight)
Gable Steveson vs Elisha Ellison (Heavyweight)
Cody Garbrandt vs Adrian Yanez (Bantamweight)
Luke Riley vs Kai Kamaka III (Featherweight)
Tracy Cortez vs Wang Cong (Women's Flyweight)
Damian Pinas vs Cesar Almeida (Middleweight)
Farid Basharat vs John Garza (Bantamweight)
Ryan Gandra vs Zachary Reese (Middleweight)
Alessandro Costa vs Cody Durden (Flyweight)
Conor McGregor: “The Notorious” returns from a five-year exile as the biggest draw the sport has ever seen
There’s no bigger name in the history of the sport than Conor McGregor (22-6). Your favourite fighter’s favourite fighter, the former two-division champion built his legend on a run of highlight-reel knockouts, capturing both the featherweight and lightweight belts and dragging millions of new fans to the sport along the way. The concern is everything that’s happened since. This is McGregor’s first fight since he snapped his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021, one of the worst live injuries we’ve ever seen, and he was 1-2 in his three fights before that, with only a win over Donald Cerrone to show for it. The dynamic, elusive featherweight of old is long gone. Nowadays, he’s a heavier boxer who sits down on his power, although there are reports he hasn’t exactly been living the professional lifestyle during his time away.
Max Holloway: “Blessed” eyes revenge
Max Holloway (27-9) is arguably the greatest volume striker the sport has ever produced, and a fighter who, in the modern era, has only ever been turned back by the genuine elite. His recent losses include the featherweight 'GOAT' Alexander Volkanovski, pound-for-pound terror Ilia Topuria (the only man to ever knock him out), and most recently Charles Oliveira, the most dangerous all-round lightweight who beat him to lift the BMF title. The last one stings, but it was a grappling shutout that tells us little about a striking match. And before that, Max had the iconic walk-off final second KO over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, and sent Dustin Poirier into retirement at UFC 318. Bottomless cardio, a granite chin, and relentless output are his main weapons.
Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway 2 prediction
The Mac is back! Every fight fan’s dream, and I’m almost completely falling for the McGregor propaganda. This is one of the most legendary fighters to ever walk into the cage, and undoubtedly the most legendary fighter ever on the mic.
These two shared the octagon over a decade ago, but that fight tells us almost nothing about this one as both men are unrecognisable from the raw prospects who met in 2013. McGregor won that night leaning on his grappling after tearing his ACL mid-fight, but there’s no chance he goes back to that now. He’s a striker through and through. One question remains above all...how long can the Mac stay effective?
Even in his prime, the vast majority of McGregor’s wins came by knockout inside the first two rounds, and that was down at featherweight and lightweight. Now he’s out of that prime, sat on the shelf for five years, and moving up two divisions to welterweight where he’s walked around well above 170 for years now and has actually had to cut down to make this weight. Will that power still translate up here, and for how long? I think it’s a maximum of two rounds, more likely one. His only real route to victory is to catch Holloway cold early.
Holloway is the faster man and he’s more used to this pace. Crucially, he’s used to having genuine danger fired back at him as he trains and competes against the very best constantly. Compare that to McGregor, whose sparring footage tends to show him beating up smaller, lower-level opposition. There’s very little competitive work in there, and at this level that matters enormously. We saw it in the Poirier rematch; McGregor looked sharp early piecing Dustin up, but the moment The Diamond got his read and started firing back, McGregor started to wilt. I expect a similar story here; a strong opening from Conor, then Max finding his range and taking over somewhere in the second round, drowning him in volume.
The market already has Holloway as a clear favourite, but nowhere near enough. The price is skewed by the excitement of McGregor’s return and punters backing their favourite fighter. Given this matchup, Max should be a much bigger favourite than he is, and that’s where the value lies. It would do wonders for the sport if The Notorious rolled back the years, and I’ll be watching with everything crossed hoping he does, but I just can’t pick him here.
Prediction: Max Holloway to win
