Conor McGregor, last seen in the ring five years ago gruesomely getting his leg broken by Dustin Poirier, makes his long-awaited return to the ring in one of UFC’s biggest events of the year when he takes on Max Holloway in a welterweight main event.
These two met more than a decade ago, in 2013, when McGregor, at the peak of his powers, won a unanimous decision. McGregor is now 37 and presumably with some rust, while Holloway is 34. McGregor is trying to reestablish himself in a sport where he once was dominant, while Holloway is looking for revenge.
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Conor McGregor, UFC 329 official weigh-ins
The younger, more recently tested Holloway comes in as a slight favorite over the Irishman.
UFC 329: Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2. How to watch
UFC 329: McGregor vs. Holloway 2 will be held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, July 11. It will be streamed live on Paramount+.
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Where: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
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Time: 7 p.m. MT/8 p.m. CT, main card starts. 5 p.m. MT/6 p.m. CT, prelims start. 3 p.m. MT/4 p.m. CT early prelims start.
More: UFC 329 weigh-in results: Conor McGregor official for return vs. Holloway
UFC 329 full card
Main
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Max Holloway vs. Conor McGregor, welterweight
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Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Brandon Royval, flyweight
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Terrance McKinney vs. King Green, lightweight
Prelims
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Robert Whittaker vs. Nikita Krylov, light heavyweight
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Gable Steveson vs. Elisha Ellison, heavyweight
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Adrian Yanez, vs. Cody Garbrandt, bantamweight
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Luke Riley vs. Kai Kamaka III, featherweight
Early Prelims
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Wang Cong vs. Tracy Cortez, women’s flyweight
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Damian Pinas vs. Cesar Almeida, middleweight
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Ryan Gandra vs. Zachary Reese, middleweight
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Alessandro Costa vs. Cody Durden, flyweight
UFC 329 fight card, odds
(Odds from DraftKings and subject to change)
Conor McGregor (+185) vs. Max Holloway (-225)
Benoit Saint-Denis (-148) vs. Paddy Pimblett (+124)
Cory Sandhagen (-130) vs. Mario Bautista (+110)
Brandon Royval (+180) vs. Lone’er Kavanagh (-218)
King Green (+110) vs. Terrance McKinney (-130)
UFC 329: McGregor vs. Holloway predictions, picks
He writes: “The thing is that power doesn’t leave. (McGregor) needs one shot, and it could be over. … I think he’s going to land the big left bomber on (Holloway).’’
Forbes: Holloway by KO
Trent Reinsmith writes: “Holloway, even a Holloway who is nearing the end of his career with a somewhat suspect chin and ability to absorb heavy blows, wins this fight more times than not.”
Combat Press: Holloway by stoppage, Round 3
Matthew Petela writes: McGregor will miss big early, over and over, and wipe out his gas tank. That is when Holloway will take over and put together those extended combinations that have given him so many wins over his career.’’
Brent Bookhouse writes: McGregor can win this fight. He is the bigger man, more experienced at lightweight and is still a vicious striker. Unfortunately, he’s barely fought in the past decade and has been on the shelf for five years after a brutal broken leg suffered against Dustin Poirier. Holloway is active, a great boxer and shown to have far better cardio than McGregor across their respective careers. McGregor will be at his most dangerous in the opening round, and if he can’t get a stoppage there, his chances of getting a win start declining pretty rapidly. Holloway has the tools he needs to win, as long as the jump to welterweight doesn’t prove to be too much for him, either in speed, power or cardio. Holloway at -225 feels like a good enough price to take.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
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