The Mac Is Back: McGregor/Holloway Preview And Pick

Conor "Notorious" McGregor, one of the most divisive personalities in combat sports, is making his return. On July 11 at UFC 329, held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, he’ll square off against Max "Blessed" Holloway in a much-anticipated rematch. McGregor took the first fight back in 2013, but Holloway enters as a heavy favorite to even the score. Here’s a closer look.

Conor McGregor
When McGregor defeated Holloway the first time, he was 25 years old, in the midst of a 15-fight win streak, and operating at his absolute peak. The Irishman has since become a worldwide celebrity, starring in films, appearing on major talk shows, and building a vast business empire across multiple industries. Now 37 (turning 38 just three days after the fight), he hasn’t competed since 2021, when he suffered a devastating broken left leg (tibia and fibula). Since 2016, McGregor has only one win — a quick finish of a nearly 37-year-old Donald Cerrone, who was already deep into a seven-fight winless skid and never won again before retiring. In short, McGregor hasn’t beaten a top-tier opponent in a decade, and even his 2016 victories came against aging fighters who were arguably past their best.

Max Holloway
Since that 2013 loss to McGregor, Holloway (27-9) has faced nearly every major name in the division. The 34-year-old Hawaiian is a fan favorite for his fearless, high-output style and refusal to back down. While he’s had ups and downs — including three losses to Alexander Volkanovski — he continues to deliver exciting performances. In his most recent bout in May, Holloway dropped a decision to Charles Oliveira (a fighter he had previously beaten). Prior to that, he avenged an earlier defeat by stopping Dustin Poirier — the same opponent who was in the cage when McGregor broke his leg. That win was followed by a loss to Ilia Topuria, though Holloway had earlier knocked out Justin Gaethje (who recently upset Topuria at UFC Freedom 250). All told, Holloway has competed eight times since McGregor’s last Octagon appearance.

The Matchup
Holloway, who always enters to his "Hawaiian Kickboxer" song, is a high-volume pressure fighter who thrives on relentless pace, jabs, combinations, kicks, and constant forward movement. He excels at outworking opponents over the long haul, backed by elite cardio, one of the strongest chins in the sport, and solid defensive wrestling. His plan will be to overwhelm McGregor with volume and grind him down.

McGregor, by contrast, is a precision striker who relies on sharp boxing, a wide stance, and explosive left-hand counters. He’s a high-risk, high-reward fighter who hunts early knockouts with power shots and kicks, prioritizing quality over quantity. After years of ring rust, he's likely to push for a quick KO or TKO.

The Line

Some McGregor money has brought the line down but Holloway is still a substantial favorite. Entering July, Max is -245 at Draft Kings. The O/U line is 2.5 under -115. 

Controversial Conor

Love him or hate him, it seems everyone has an opinion about McGregor. That's a big part of what has made him a marketing master. Recently, McGregor was a guest on "The Tonight Show," hosted by Jimmy Fallon, to promote his comeback. During the interview, Fallon recalled the pair going out for drinks following a previous appearance, saying “We’ll have to do it again!” Many viewers were thrilled to see their favorite fighter on the popular program. Others were not. Fallon received considerable backlash and was accused of using his platform to help rehabilitate Conor's image. Recall that its been less than two years since an Irish jury found McGregor liable in a civil sexual assault case and less than a year since McGregor lost his appeal of that case. 

The first fight went the distance but this one is unlikely to do so. McGregor has fought 12 times in the UFC since the first fight and only one of those went to the judges, and none of the past five. While Holloway's fights often go longer, the revenge-minded favorite is also entirely capable of getting an early stoppage. Recommendation: Under 2.5 rounds