Conor McGregor and Max Holloway have began promoting UFC 329 the best way solely two veterans can: with a mixture of humor and grit. Throughout a latest alternate, McGregor requested Holloway how he was feeling after the five-round loss to Charles Oliveira, and Holloway flipped it again with one among McGregor’s previous strains about solely counting finishes. McGregor’s reply, “I like this. Go ring the bell,” confirmed that the jab landed cleanly sufficient to get fun as an alternative of a fight-night glare.
UFC 329: Max Holloway Fires Again at Conor McGregor, Ends Alternate With a Snigger
McGregor and Holloway first fought in August 2013, when each had been rising names at featherweight and much from the celebs they’d turn out to be. McGregor received that battle by unanimous choice, taking management on the mat after struggling a torn ACL throughout the bout, and the rematch at UFC 329 now comes 13 years in a while a a lot bigger stage.
That previous battle is barely a part of the draw. Holloway enters this matchup as a former UFC featherweight champion whose run at 145 kilos made him one of many division’s defining figures, and he has stayed related whereas taking main fights at light-weight as effectively. Even in defeat towards Oliveira at UFC 326, he went the complete 5 rounds, survived repeated submission threats, and stored pushing to the ultimate horn, which is a giant motive followers nonetheless view him as some of the revered names on the roster.
McGregor‘s aspect of the story could be very totally different as he stays probably the most recognizable fighter the game has produced, and UFC 329 is about up as his return after a protracted layoff that adopted the damaged leg he suffered in his final Octagon look towards Dustin Poirier in July 2021. That is McGregor’s comeback after 5 years away.
Conor: “How are you doing after your five-round battle with Oliveira? I used to be disenchanted within the end result and the end result of the bout. How’s the physique? How are you feeling?”
Max: “In Conor’s phrases, I don’t even assume that’s a loss. He stated he solely counts finishes. Final, I misplaced a call.”
Conor: [Laughing] “I like this. Go ring the bell”
McGregor got here into the interview in classic kind, telling Holloway he wouldn’t land on him and calling him “my youngster,” whereas Holloway stayed free and answered in his typical calm model. That stability is a part of why the alternate landed so effectively: McGregor pushed, Holloway answered with humor, and the strain briefly gave method to each males having fun with the road.
UFC 329 is scheduled for July 11, 2026, in Las Vegas, with McGregor vs. Holloway 2 set as the primary occasion throughout Worldwide Battle Week. The cardboard was formally introduced in Might, and the occasion is predicted to function one of many UFC’s greatest summer season exhibits, which inserts the dimensions of McGregor’s return and Holloway’s newest marquee spot.
