Ali Akbar Rosady
As UFC 329 draws near, anticipation builds for the highly awaited return of Conor McGregor, with reigning UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski providing a comprehensive breakdown and prediction for McGregor’s rematch against Max Holloway. The event, set for Saturday in Las Vegas, marks McGregor’s first competitive appearance in five years, following a severe leg injury sustained in his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier. Volkanovski, a fighter intimately familiar with both competitors, having faced Holloway three times and observed McGregor’s career closely, offered his expert analysis on his personal YouTube channel, highlighting the challenges facing both men.
Volkanovski’s primary concern regarding McGregor’s comeback centers on the impact of a prolonged layoff and a significant injury on the former two-division champion’s renowned sharpness and timing. "Can he be that sharp? Can he be that good with his timing?" Volkanovski questioned, reflecting on the elite-level precision that characterized McGregor’s ascent. While acknowledging McGregor’s inherent skill, Volkanovski expressed skepticism about a full return to peak form. "I don’t believe he’ll ever be that good again. But can he still have great timing, still be sharp, still have a good eye? 100 percent." This nuanced perspective suggests that while McGregor’s fundamental striking ability remains, the razor-thin margins at the sport’s pinnacle could prove difficult to reclaim after such a hiatus.
McGregor, 35, enters UFC 329 with a professional record of 22 wins and 6 losses. His last victory dates back to January 2020 against Donald Cerrone. The subsequent losses to Dustin Poirier in 2021, particularly the leg fracture in their third encounter, have raised significant questions about his physical and mental recovery. Despite McGregor’s confident assertions of being "better than ever," the physical toll of a career marked by explosive knockouts and intense training, combined with the natural progression of age, is a factor Volkanovski believes cannot be ignored. "I still think he’s going to be able to hit Max. Max has got a great chin. I think he’s going to have to rely on his chin a little bit," Volkanovski added, hinting at McGregor’s persistent power but also the potential for Holloway to absorb early damage.
Turning his attention to Max Holloway, Volkanovski emphasized the significant evolution in Holloway’s fighting style since their initial encounter. Holloway, 32, boasts a record of 25 wins and 7 losses. His extensive professional career, spanning 16 years, has seen him compete against a roster of elite featherweights. Volkanovski, who collectively spent 75 minutes inside the octagon with Holloway across three championship bouts, acknowledged the mileage accumulated by the Hawaiian veteran. However, he also pointed to Holloway’s tactical refinements. "Max is much better now of being a little bit more defensive and not just trying to volume punch," Volkanovski stated. This strategic shift away from purely high-volume striking, a hallmark of Holloway’s earlier career, is crucial when facing a power puncher like McGregor. "He’s going to know not to do that with someone like Conor, as well, because he could get caught big if he was to try and be the fighter that he was earlier in his career."
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Volkanovski elaborated on Holloway’s contemporary approach, suggesting it would be instrumental in navigating McGregor’s initial onslaught. "Can he zap the life out of Conor pretty quickly? 100 percent," Volkanovski posited, but cautioned against relying solely on volume. "Can he rely on that volume striking to do so like he used to? No. I think that could lose him the fight." The featherweight champion believes that Holloway’s current, more calculated style will allow him to absorb shots and gradually impose his will. "The fighter that Max is today, I think he’s going to be safe enough to not get hit too much. I think he still gets hit, but luckily he’s still durable and still got a good chin, where he’s going to survive some of those big shots and then just start to have his way even later in the first round. And then you’re going to probably see him start to do his thing."
The first encounter between McGregor and Holloway took place in August 2013 at UFC Fight Night 26, where McGregor secured a unanimous decision victory. Both fighters were then rising prospects, and the fight remains a significant benchmark in their respective careers. Since then, both have gone on to achieve significant championship success. McGregor notably became the first UFC fighter to hold two titles simultaneously (featherweight and lightweight), while Holloway established himself as one of the most dominant featherweight champions in UFC history, defending his title multiple times before losing it to Volkanovski.
Despite McGregor’s known power, Volkanovski stressed the importance of Holloway approaching the fight with caution. "People think Max is just going to walk through him from the start. It ain’t gonna be that easy. He’s going to have big problems early, and I think Max is going to have to give him that respect, and not let him land them big shots." He predicted that Holloway would demonstrate the necessary tactical intelligence to avoid major risks. "Max is going to be clever enough where we won’t really see that. But I still think that Conor will be dangerous enough where we’re going to be like, ‘Oh shit!’ Max needs to be careful."
Ultimately, Volkanovski’s prediction leans towards a Holloway victory, potentially by finish. "I’m gonna have to go Max Holloway for the win. Could it be a finish? 100 percent. If Max gets you tired, he’s so good at going for the kill… I think it’s just going to be too much for Conor, and you’re going to see Max get his hand raised, maybe get a finish." This forecast underscores the belief that Holloway’s evolved strategy, combined with his renowned durability and relentless pace, will eventually overwhelm McGregor, whose ability to maintain peak performance throughout a lengthy bout after a significant layoff remains uncertain.
UFC 329 represents a pivotal moment for both fighters. For McGregor, it is an opportunity to prove his enduring relevance and capability at the elite level. For Holloway, it is a chance to avenge a career-defining loss from his early days and further solidify his legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
Around the MMA World:
Beyond the highly anticipated main event, the mixed martial arts community has been abuzz with various developments. MMA Fighting recently released its "Midyear Awards" for 2026, recognizing outstanding performances in categories such as Fighter of the Midyear (Justin Gaethje), Fight of the Midyear (shared between two all-time battles), Submission of the Midyear (Murtazali Magomedov’s Scottish Twister), and Knockout of the Midyear (Alexa Grasso’s finish over Maycee Barber).
Celebrations for national holidays also made headlines, with Justin Gaethje notably returning to the White House, among other July 4th festivities observed across the MMA world. Updates from The Ultimate Fighter 34 included an incident where contestant Xavier Franklin nearly went missing during a mountain run, providing a glimpse into the rigorous environment of the reality series. In other combat sports news, Austin Trout delivered a "Rocky"-themed walkout at a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) event before experiencing a knockout loss. Viral moments included a fighter tapping out one second into a bout, citing a motorcycle injury as the cause.
Upcoming fight announcements include:
- Santiago Ponzinibbio (30-9) vs. Sam Patterson (14-3-1) at UFC Abu Dhabi, July 25.
- Mateusz Gamrot (26-4) vs. Quillan Salkilld (12-1) at UFC Vegas 120, Aug. 8.
- Reiner de Ridder (21-4) vs. Roman Dolidze (15-5) at UFC Sacramento, Aug. 22.
- Jordan Burroughs vs. Sean Brady (wrestling bout) at RAF 12, Aug. 22.
- Umar Nurmagomedov (20-1) vs. Song Yadong (23-9-1, 1 NC) at UFC Shanghai, Aug. 29.
As UFC 329 fight week commences, the focus intensifies on the main event, a bout that carries significant implications for the careers of two of the sport’s most iconic figures.
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