Can McGregor upset Holloway at UFC 329, or will the featherweight king dominate?

Will Conor McGregor shock the odds when he faces Max Holloway on July 11 at UFC 329? The Irish fighter enters as an underdog against a man who has dominated the featherweight division, yet their history suggests the matchup could play out far more unpredictably.

McGregor won their first meeting 13 years ago by unanimous decision. What’s happened since tells a different story for each man. McGregor has been sidelined for five years, while Holloway stayed sharp and built a fearsome reputation. The UFC 329 main event runs five rounds at 170 pounds.

Alexander Volkanovski—a two-time UFC featherweight champion with three wins over Holloway—sees more complexity than the narrative suggests. “Everyone thinks Max is going to run through Conor, but it’s not going to be that simple. Conor will be dangerous early, and Max knows he has to respect that power.”

Still, Volkanovski favors Holloway to take it. “Can it be a finish? 100%. If Max gets you tired, he’s so good at going in for the kill.” That aligns with his core read: Holloway will win the fight.

Holloway isn’t shy about his own game plan. “We drown him. We’ll give him an old Hawaii-style beating and drown him. We take him to deep waters.” His swagger reflects genuine dominance at the weight class, though McGregor’s first-round explosiveness remains a real threat.