Islam Makhachev gives unexpected response to Conor McGregor’s UFC comeback

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Islam Makhachev gives unexpected response to Conor McGregor’s UFC comeback

Originally posted on HITC | By Filipe Guedes | Last updated May 31, 2026 10:35 AM ET

Conor McGregor’s return to the UFC is officially set, with the Irishman scheduled to face Max Holloway at UFC 329 on 11 July in Las Vegas.

The bout will take place at welterweight, almost five years since McGregor last fought and more than a decade since he first defeated Holloway.

His biggest rival Khabib Nurmagomedov is no longer active, but his protégé Islam Makhachev is, and his reaction to McGregor’s comeback may surprise some fans.

Islam Makhachev shares honest view on Conor McGregor’s return

Speaking to TNT, Makhachev described McGregor’s return as positive for the UFC, although he does not expect an easy night for the former two-weight champion.

“It’s good. Big name for our sport. But he has a tough opponent. Max Holloway against Conor, I think Max can beat him,” the Dagestani star said.

That tone matters because McGregor has already looked beyond Holloway, saying he wants a crack at Makhachev’s 170-pound belt, a possible third UFC crown. And the feud involving Makhachev’s coach, Khabib, only adding another layer to that.

He praised Makhachev’s move to welterweight and said a southpaw-versus-southpaw fight would be a good scrap, while admitting the UFC will decide his path.

For now, Holloway is the obstacle. The Irishman has not fought since his 2021 injury defeat to Dustin Poirier, and that absence has shaped the doubts around him.

Those doubts explain why many see Holloway as the safer pick, despite McGregor winning their first meeting by decision back in 2013.

Therefore, before any title talk becomes realistic, McGregor must prove his timing, durability and level can survive five years away from the cage.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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