Max Holloway rematch shock: Conor McGregor’s coach reveals his initial thoughts

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Max Holloway rematch shock: Conor McGregor’s coach reveals his initial thoughts

Originally posted on HITC | By Kyle Dimond | Last updated May 30, 2026 8:45 PM ET

Conor McGregor’s long-time striking coach has shared his thoughts on the fighter’s upcoming UFC 329 comeback.

Ticket sales for McGregor’s return have already shown that when it comes to drawing a crowd, no one does it quite like ‘The Notorious’.

There’s excitement around his comeback, but there are also questions about whether this is the right fight for him to take on.

But according to his coach, Max Holloway presents exactly the kind of challenge that McGregor needs right now.

It’s been a while since McGregor last stepped into the cage, but Max Holloway isn’t taking him lightly. Since then, Holloway has continued to take on top-level competition in both the featherweight and lightweight divisions.

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Owen Roddy knows Conor McGregor has a tough task ahead

Speaking with Dublin Dialogues, Roddy described what it’s like working with McGregor again and gave his thoughts on the upcoming fight.

“He’s got that fire. It’s a tough fight, so that’s what brings out the best in Conor because he’s saying to himself, this is a challenge,” Roddy told Dublin Dialogues. “So, he’s switched on. They’ve fought before. They have some experience with each other.

“That was a long time ago, but yeah, it’s very exciting, and it’s great to be back on the mats. Great to be game planning. Great to be breaking down Max and looking for the holes.”

McGregor hasn’t fought since breaking his leg during his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier back in 2021.

The Irishman recently spoke about how that time away has changed his mindset and how he now prepares for worst-case scenarios ahead of UFC 329.

But there are still plenty of questions about how McGregor will look after being out of action for so long, even if it does mean less wear and tear compared to Holloway. He’ll have little room for error against someone as dangerous as ‘Blessed’.

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

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