The Return of the Notorious
Conor McGregor makes his highly anticipated return to the UFC at T-Mobile Arena this Saturday, July 11, headlining UFC 329 against longtime rival Max Holloway. The bout, a rematch of their 2013 encounter, marks McGregor’s first appearance in the Octagon in five years, following a severe leg injury in 2021. The event serves as the centerpiece of the UFC’s annual ‘International Fight Week’.
Fighter Consensus and Analysis
As the fight approaches, the consensus among fellow professionals leans heavily toward Holloway. The primary concern cited by those on the card is McGregor’s extended absence from active competition. While McGregor enters the fight at welterweight—a division where he holds experience—Holloway is stepping up to 170 pounds for the first time.
Robert Whittaker, a former champion, noted the psychological and physical toll of long-term inactivity: ‘There’s a lot of variables in this fight. If you’re not in competition, it’s not the same. I’m going to be backing Max because he’s battle-tested.’ Similarly, bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen highlighted conditioning as a potential decisive factor, stating, ‘I think the conditioning is going to be a big deal, and not fighting for so long is going to be a big deal.’
Paddy Pimblett, who competes in the co-main event against Benoit Saint-Denis, echoed these sentiments, suggesting that Holloway’s volume striking will eventually overwhelm the Irishman. ‘Max will have more weight behind his volume striking, which will lead to him eventually stopping Conor,’ Pimblett said. While McGregor’s power and timing remain his most cited attributes, the skepticism surrounding his current form compared to Holloway’s consistent activity remains the dominant narrative heading into the weekend.