UFC 329 features the highly anticipated return of Conor McGregor as he battles old foe Max Holloway on Saturday. In the pair’s first side-by-side appearance in 13 years, tensions escalated quickly.
On Thursday, the promotion held its usual pre-numbered event press conference to hype the main and co-main events. For McGregor, stages like these were staples of his rise, displaying his silver tongue and quick wit. After five years away, he rematches Holloway, who lost to McGregor via unanimous decision in 2013 at featherweight.
Advertisement
Ahead of their welterweight bout Saturday, McGregor and Holloway got physical when going forehead-to-forehead, as McGregor tossed Holloway’s sunglasses and slapped his hand.
Despite the interaction, Holloway remained in good spirits and didn’t take McGregor’s actions too seriously.
“I feel great. That was good fun. Typical Conor, we’re fine, we’re fine, we’re fine,” Holloway said.
Before the staredown, McGregor and Holloway traded verbal jabs throughout the press conference, making callbacks to their first fight and the history since.
McGregor: “All the marbles are on the line here, and I’m coming in like a missile. His boxing is abysmal. I don’t rate it once. He has one gear, and it’s not impressive. Very rarely have we seen magic inside the Octagon from Max Holloway.”
Holloway: “I’ve seen you got two belts. I guess we’re fighting for a belt come Saturday night, so I can’t wait to take those pretty belts off his hands.”
McGregor: “You didn’t lay a glove on me last time. You’re not gonna lay a glove on me this time. This is a different animal coming back. I’ve got a lot to prove here, and who am I proving it to? Myself. So you’re up against it.”
Holloway: “I touched your face quite a bit last time, and heck, if we’re talking about drops, I dropped your ass with a high kick.”
The rematch will be a rebound attempt for both men. Holloway (27-9), who has fought 10 times (6-4) since McGregor’s last bout, will enter the cage after a unanimous-decision loss to Charles Oliveira in March. McGregor (22-6), on the other hand, rides a two-fight losing skid from back-to-back losses against Dustin Poirier in 2021. In the latter, he suffered a gruesome leg fracture, leading to his five-year absence from the sport.
Advertisement
Throughout that time, McGregor made sure not to rush such a catastrophic injury, but also dealt with legal troubles. The former two-division champion was found liable in a high-profile Irish civil trial in 2024 for the sexual assault of Nikita Hand, as she claimed the Irish star raped her in a Dublin hotel room in 2018. McGregor addressed the case at Wednesday’s media day, stating his innocence.
When predicting the matchup, Holloway made his intentions loud and clear.
Holloway: “I hope he knows how to swim. I’m drowing his a**.”
McGregor: “Not one chance do you stand.”
Holloway: “Keep telling yourself that, brother. We get to find out on Saturday night, that’s the beautiful thing.”
