Max Holloway is pushing back hard on the idea that his UFC 329 showdown with Conor McGregor will be a walkover, insisting he’s preparing for the “most dangerous” version of the former champion.
Holloway and McGregor are set for a five-round main event at 170 pounds at UFC 329, taking place at T-Mobile Arena. The bout is a rematch of their 2013 meeting, which McGregor won. Since then, Holloway is coming off a knockout win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, while McGregor has not fought in five years and suffered a leg break in his last fight in 2021. Betting odds for UFC 329 have shifted toward Holloway.
“I mean, that's crazy talk. A lot of these people and fans are counting Conor out, which is crazy,” Holloway said, reacting to suggestions the matchup is an easy one.
“A lot of people counted Justin Gaethje out (vs. Ilia Topuria). This is a different situation, right? This guy has unlimited money, he has a lot of connections, he's coming off a crazy injury, he supposedly found God, his kids are going to be here at the fight. I saw him with Tim Grover; I don't know if that's the coach now. He's doing all the right things. I'm getting ready for the most dangerous Conor McGregor we ever saw, and nobody is telling me otherwise because once you start overlooking people, things don't go too well for you.”
“He's an animal. He's a warrior,” Holloway added, emphasizing his respect for McGregor’s willingness to return despite his success and status.
