TLDR
- Max Holloway faces Conor McGregor at UFC 329 on Saturday, 13 years after losing their first fight in 2013
- Holloway changed his strategy from wanting a beatdown to hoping McGregor stays competitive for a potential trilogy
- The fight marks Holloway’s debut at welterweight, while McGregor has experience at 170 pounds
- Holloway is coming off a loss to Charles Oliveira where he was outgrappled for five rounds
- Holloway is the betting favorite despite McGregor’s punching power advantage
Sources: bjpenn.com
Max Holloway says he wants Conor McGregor to be competitive in their rematch at UFC 329 this Saturday. The former featherweight champion hopes a close fight will lead to a trilogy bout later this year.
Holloway and McGregor will meet in the main event on Saturday, 13 years after their first encounter in 2013. McGregor won that fight, and Holloway has been waiting for a chance to even the score ever since.
Strategy Change for Trilogy Fight
During UFC 329 media day, Holloway told reporters he initially planned to dominate McGregor. But he has reconsidered his approach after thinking about the bigger picture.
“I’m going in there and put paws on him,” Holloway said. “I’m going to make him wish that he didn’t come back—actually no, I’m not going to make him wish that.”
Holloway explained his revised thinking about the fight outcome. “I’m going to make him think that he can do it one more time so we can rematch at the end of the year,” he said.
The Hawaiian fighter understands that sharing the cage with McGregor is a rare opportunity in mixed martial arts. McGregor has dealt with multiple injuries in recent years, making his return to competition uncertain at times.
Conor McGregor tells Nina Drama about the STRUGGLE of abstaining from s-x with his wife ahead of his UFC comeback fight against Max Holloway 😭💀👀
“It’s been intense. I’ve been roaring in the shower, literally like some sort of animal.” 🤣 pic.twitter.com/8D1tfiDQTz
— Killa 🌺 (@KillaKreww) July 9, 2026
“It’s huge,” Holloway said. “Who would have thought Conor was even coming back after what happened with the injury and with him and his other injury at a fight that he had, so it’s just big.”
Holloway said his main focus remains getting a win over his old rival. “I finally get to right a wrong and I’m looking forward to it,” he added.
Fighting at Welterweight
The UFC 329 headliner will take place at welterweight, marking Holloway’s first fight at 170 pounds. McGregor has fought at welterweight before, which some analysts believe gives him an advantage.
Holloway enters the fight as the betting favorite despite this being his debut at the higher weight class. McGregor’s punching power at welterweight is considered a factor that could change the fight’s outcome.
Holloway’s last fight ended in disappointment when he lost to Charles Oliveira. The bout was for the BMF Championship, and Oliveira controlled Holloway on the ground for all five rounds.
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A strong performance against McGregor would help Holloway recover from that loss. The fight gives him a chance to prove he can compete at welterweight against a former two-division UFC champion.
UFC 329 takes place on Saturday with Holloway and McGregor headlining the card. The rematch comes more than a decade after their first meeting when both fighters were earlier in their careers.
