UFC 329: McGregor vs. Holloway 2
Conor McGregor is set to make his return to the UFC tonight, facing Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 329 in Las Vegas. This marks McGregor’s first fight since July 2021. The event is scheduled to begin its main card at 9 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on Paramount+ in the U.S.
McGregor, a former two-division UFC champion, has been out of action for an extended period. He lost a legal appeal related to a civil jury’s finding that he should compensate a woman who accused her of rape at a Dublin hotel. He has consistently maintained his innocence and was not criminally charged. Additionally, McGregor received an 18-month suspension for three violations of the UFC’s anti-doping policy. This suspension was backdated and concluded in March 2026.
Whittaker’s light heavyweight debut
In other action at UFC 329, Robert Whittaker made a successful debut in the light heavyweight division, defeating Nikita Krylov. Whittaker, known as “Bobby Knuckles,” secured a third-round stoppage against Krylov. This victory marks a significant moment for Whittaker, who was a prominent middleweight star, winning interim gold in 2017 and later becoming undisputed champion after Georges St-Pierre vacated the title.
Whittaker never defended his undisputed title, losing it to Israel Adesanya in 2019. He remained a contender in the middleweight division for seven years but did not reclaim the championship. At , his move to light heavyweight suggests a potential career resurgence, demonstrating that his power translates to the heavier weight class. During his fight with Krylov, Whittaker appeared to inflict a jaw injury on his opponent, mirroring an injury he sustained in against Khamzat Chimaev.
The fight between Whittaker and Krylov saw Whittaker recover from a slow start in the first round, landing several blows. Krylov initially had a mobility advantage, pinning Whittaker against the cage. However, Whittaker gained momentum in the second round, landing hooks and jabs that bloodied Krylov’s face. The referee eventually stopped the fight in the third round after a massive right hook from Whittaker caused Krylov to stumble backward, resulting in a TKO.
McGregor vs. Holloway 2 predictions
The main event features a rematch between McGregor and Holloway, who previously met as featherweights in 2013, with McGregor winning that bout. For UFC 329, both fighters will compete as welterweights. McGregor has won only one of his last four fights and has two wins in the past decade. Holloway, a former featherweight champion, will be making his welterweight debut.
Several MMA personalities have offered predictions for the McGregor vs. Holloway rematch. Tom Aspinall, UFC heavyweight champion, predicts a McGregor win, possibly by first-round knockout, citing McGregor’s enduring power. In contrast, Michael Bisping, the first British UFC champion, believes Holloway will survive the early onslaught and win, suggesting McGregor might struggle if the fight extends beyond the first round.
Paddy Pimblett, UFC lightweight, offers a 50/50 prediction, noting that if McGregor lands early, he could secure a knockout, especially at welterweight. However, Pimblett also suggests that if the fight goes past the second round, Holloway could dominate. Retired UFC champion Demetrious Johnson and retired UFC lightweight Paul Felder both favour Holloway, with Felder predicting a late stoppage in the fourth round.
Other predictions include Benoit Saint-Denis and Cory Sandhagen backing Holloway, emphasizing McGregor’s long layoff and potential conditioning issues. Dricus du Plessis, UFC middleweight, supports McGregor, stating he would never go against him. Bobby Green and Terrance McKinney offer 50/50 predictions, acknowledging McGregor’s power but also Holloway’s consistency. Robert Whittaker, fresh off his light heavyweight debut win, also backs Holloway, citing his battle-tested experience in five-round fights.
Mason Jones, UFC lightweight, predicts a McGregor win within three rounds, believing McGregor’s size at 170lb will be a factor despite concerns about his gas tank. Mario Bautista and Gable Steveson also favour Holloway, anticipating that the longer the fight goes, the more it will benefit Holloway. The main card for UFC 329 is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. ET.
Source: nytimes.com
