Former two-division champion Conor McGregor plans to put on a ‘masterpiece‘ performance in his UFC 329 return on Saturday. “The Notorious” takes on former featherweight champion and BMF titleholder Max Holloway in a rematch in the fight card’s main event.
It’s been five years since the 37 year-old made the walk to the octagon and heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall expects a vintage McGregor performance at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
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“I watched a couple of his interviews recently. He seems in a really good place. I know it’s only an interview, but he does seem in a good place. When McGregor’s on form, he’s absolutely unreal. Absolutely unreal,” Aspinall said on his YouTube channel.
“He’s beat Max Hollway before. Max Holloway, in my opinion, really, really good fighter. One of the best ever. Didn’t look great in his last fight. Did not look great against Charles Oliveira at all. He looked like, he kind of like was questioning whether he wanted to be there or not at points, but he was fighting a grappler. So, you know, when it’s all striking, which it probably will be with McGregor, Max Holloway’s shown some, his striking, like his striking IQ is so good. Doesn’t get it much. But in the first fight, he grappled him. He might grapple him again.”
The two first fought at UFC Fight Night 26 in August 2013. McGregor defeated Holloway via unanimous decision in a featherweight bout and had to use grappling to do it. The Irishman tore his ACL during the match and was forced to immediately adjust game plans.
“Neither of them are the same fighter that they were like 10 years ago. Obviously, there’s been massive gaps. They’ve also got a lot more miles on the clock and stuff like that. I think that, yeah, Max is definitely later on in his career. Max, though, Max puts on some unbelievable performances. When we saw him fight Justin Gaethje, he was unreal. That wasn’t that long ago,” Aspinall said.
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“He’s absolutely unreal when he’s on form. So, I just want to see a good fight. I’m excited to see McGregor back. I’m always excited to see Max Holloway fight. This is one to get excited about for sure.”
Despite McGregor’s long layoff, Aspinall predicted he’ll get the job done on Saturday and believes it will happen in the first round. If McGregor’s able to knock Holloway out, he’ll be on the second fighter to do so.
“But like I said, I heard a couple of McGregor interviews. I was very impressed with what he was talking about and how calmed he seemed and how focused he seemed. I know it’s just an interview. It doesn’t really mean anything but he’s up against an active guy like Max Holloway. But the thing is that power doesn’t leave. Like, he just needs one shot and it can be over. So, I’m more favoring towards a McGregor win,” Aspinall said.
“I think Conor McGregor round one knockout. … I think he’s going to land the big left bomber on him.”
