One of the biggest fights in UFC history takes place this Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, when the biggest superstar in MMA history, Conor McGregor, returns to the octagon after five years away to fight Max Holloway in a five-round welterweight rematch.
The fight is very intriguing, as it’s the first time that MMA fans will see the 37-year-old Irishman step into the cage since he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 on July 10, 2021. Nearly five years to the day, McGregor steps back into the octagon to fight Holloway in a rematch 13 years in the making.
The event is sold out and is expected to draw a massive viewership for the UFC. Anytime McGregor fights, it’s a spectacle and must-watch television. It will be no different at UFC 329 this weekend when he fights Holloway for the first time since 2013, when both men were still relatively new to the UFC.
In that first fight with Holloway, McGregor won a decision with his wrestling — the only time in his MMA career he’s resorted to grappling — after he tore his ACL during the bout. Not long after that, McGregor won his first UFC belt as a featherweight, and then added the lightweight belt, too. Holloway also eventually became a champion after their first fight, claiming the featherweight belt in 2016.
In the rematch, there is no title on the line, as neither McGregor nor Holloway is currently a UFC champion. But if McGregor upsets Holloway, he could be fighting for a belt in his next fight.
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No, it doesn’t make sense when there are far more deserving contenders waiting for a title shot. But no one sells a fight like McGregor does, so don’t be surprised if UFC president Dana White grants him a title shot in his next fight should he get past Holloway.
If that happens, McGregor could potentially fight for a belt either at 155 or 170 pounds.
If he fights for the UFC lightweight title, he would take on new champion Justin Gaethje, who just beat Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 in one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. It would not be easy for McGregor to cut down to 155 pounds at this point in his MMA career, but he might be willing to do it for a title fight against Gaethje — especially if the UFC pays up.
After that fight, Gaethje admitted he is contemplating retiring and walking away from the sport at the top of his game. But at age 37, he could surely want one more big paycheque before walking off into the sunset, and there is no bigger opponent than McGregor.
This would be a dream matchup between two elite strikers, and UFC fans would surely love to see it happen. Yes, Arman Tsarukyan is far more deserving of a lightweight title shot right now, as is Charles Oliveira.
But Gaethje vs. McGregor is the bigger fight, and if McGregor beats Holloway at UFC 329, don’t be surprised at all if the Irishman gets the next shot at the UFC lightweight title.
If McGregor fights for the UFC welterweight title, he would take on the winner of the UFC 330 main event between Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Garry. Regardless of who wins that fight, there’s a compelling storyline for McGregor.
- Watch UFC 329 on Sportsnet+
Conor McGregor makes his anticipated return against fan favourite Max Holloway. Watch UFC 329 on Saturday, July 11 with prelim coverage beginning 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT, and pay-per-view main card starting at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
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Should he fight Makhachev, he would be taking on the good friend and training partner of his longtime rival, Khabib Nurmagomedov. That’s a massive fight, even though Makhachev would be an absolute monster favourite due to his superior grappling. But the chance of a McGregor KO makes it at least interesting. Plus, he would get the chance to become the first three-division champion in UFC history if he fights for the welterweight title.
Should Machado Garry beat Makhachev at UFC 330 and win the belt, then McGregor vs. Machado Garry would be the biggest fight in European MMA history between the two biggest stars Ireland has ever produced.
Regardless of whether it’s at lightweight or welterweight, look for McGregor to fight for a belt in his next fight if he can beat Holloway. It all rides on the outcome this weekend, because if he loses, the chance of ever fighting for a UFC title again might be lost with it.
If McGregor beats Holloway, though, it opens a whole world of possibilities for the biggest star the sport of mixed martial arts has ever produced. You know the UFC would love to see it happen because they are in the business of making money, and no one prints more money for the promotion than McGregor does.
And for the fans, the chance to see the sport’s biggest superstar fight for a belt one last time is too good to pass up.
