Conor McGregor is making his return to the octagon five years and one day since his last fight in 2021. He is fighting Max Holloway in a rematch that is 13 years in the making. UFC 329 is a loaded fight card, with four ranked matchups. The event is at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it begins at 5 p.m. ET. The five-fight main card starts at 9 p.m. ET on Paramount+. Here are our top UFC 329 picks for McGregor vs. Holloway 2.
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UFC 329 Picks: Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Conor McGregor (+180)
McGregor has not fought since July 10, 2021, when he lost via knockout to Dustin Poirier. That was his second consecutive knockout loss to Poirier in the same year. Before that, he beat Donald Cerrone via knockout in January 2020, and lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov in a title fight in October 2018. He has fought four times since the start of 2017.
He lands 5.32 significant strikes and absorbs 4.66 significant strikes per minute. McGregor lands with 49% accuracy and defends 54% of opponents' significant strikes. He averages 0.67 takedowns landed per 15 minutes with 55% accuracy. He only defends 66% of opponents' takedowns.
Max Holloway (–218)
Max Holloway is 2-1 in his three fights at lightweight and 2-2 in his last four fights. He lost to Charles Oliveira via unanimous decision in March, and beat Poirier via unanimous decision in July 2025. He was knocked out for the first and only time in his career by Ilia Topuria in October 2024 when he challenged for the featherweight title. Before that, he knocked out Justin Gaethje in one of the most memorable knockouts in the history of MMA.
Holloway lands 6.91 significant strikes and absorbs 4.61 significant strikes per minute. He lands with 48% accuracy and defends 58% of opponents' strikes. He averages 0.23 takedowns landed per 15 minutes with 53% accuracy. Holloway defends 81% of takedowns.
Prediction
These men fought in 2013, in what was Holloway's sixth fight and McGregor's second fight in the UFC. Holloway was 21, and McGregor was 25. McGregor won via decision in a three-round fight and landed four takedowns in that fight. These men are vastly different fighters than they were at that time and have accomplished nearly everything possible in the UFC.
The key difference in this fight is the activity level. McGregor has not fought in five years, and Holloway has remained active while fighting some of the best fighters in the world. McGregor broke his leg in his last fight against Poirier, which prompted his long layoff. That is a scary injury, and one that could have ended his fighting career. McGregor has overcome significant adversity to return to the octagon and is facing one of the best fighters on the planet.
McGregor did not look great in his last two fights against Poirier in 2021. He showed glimpses of what he is capable of, but lacked the same will to win. It looked like he gave up when things started going south for him. Holloway has more power in this weight class and throws devastating combinations once he gets his opponent hurt. Once Holloway gets McGregor against the fence, it is likely the beginning of the end. Holloway straight up is a solid play, but a little too steep to give out. This fight likely ends before the halfway mark, and the odds are in your favor.
