Must-watch alert: Max Holloway believes Conor McGregor is still a huge rival before UFC 329

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Must-watch alert: Max Holloway believes Conor McGregor is still a huge rival before UFC 329

Originally posted on HITC | By Harvey Leonard | Last updated May 23, 2026 11:16 AM ET

Max Holloway isn’t underestimating Conor McGregor ahead of their fight on July 11.

The UFC officially announced McGregor’s return last Saturday, during Dana White’s appearance on the MVP MMA broadcast on Netflix.

McGregor and Holloway are set to face off again at UFC 329, more than a decade after their first meeting in Boston, where the Irishman came out on top.

A lot of fans expect ‘Blessed’ to come away with the win this time around, but Holloway isn’t buying into that narrative.

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Max Holloway on why it would be ‘dumb’ to overlook Conor McGregor

McGregor hasn’t fought since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 back in July 2021. With so much time away, many fans wondered if he’d ever step into the Octagon again.

So when news broke that the UFC was planning a rematch between McGregor and Holloway, there was plenty of surprise across the sport.

Holloway has remained active during McGregor’s absence, picking up wins over top names like Poirier and Justin Gaethje.

Even with all that momentum behind him, Holloway isn’t taking anything for granted ahead of their matchup.

Speaking about the fight during a recent stream on Kick, Holloway said: “It’s a hard fight. Conor’s still dangerous. You’d be dumb as hell to think he’s not.”

The bout is also a chance for both men to rebound from recent setbacks inside the Octagon. This time around, Holloway will be hoping to flip that script when he faces McGregor again this summer.

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

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