​Dricus Du Plessis is eagerly anticipating Conor McGregor’s return at UFC 329, where McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) will meet Max Holloway (27-9 MMA, 23-9 UFC) in a late-year welterweight main event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, broadcast on Paramount+. The former UFC middleweight champion has long admired McGregor, though there was a time when he doubted the Irishman would ever step back into the cage.
Du Plessis reflected on their perspectives in Fight Forecast, noting that McGregor rose to prominence just as he was beginning his professional career. “Conor came up at the same time I started,” Du Plessis said. “So he was a guy I genuinely looked up to as I progressed in the sport. Max Holloway, too, is absolutely a Hall of Famer who never has a dull moment. He had a rough stretch against Charles Oliveira in his most recent outing, but I don’t think you’ll see him and Conor mirror that fight.”
Du Plessis also commented on the intrigue of McGregor competing at 170 pounds and Holloway’s capability to perform at that weight. Holloway’s reach and height make him a formidable test, but the prospect of McGregor’s return adds a unique layer of excitement. “There’s one thing about Conor: there’s never pressure for him. He shows up, he does what he does. Physically, he looks good, but you’re stepping in against Max Holloway, and that’s a tall order,” Du Plessis said. He added a hypothetical, “Imagine Conor beating Max Holloway and earning another title shot.”
Du Plessis acknowledged that Holloway is a colossal fan favorite and a deserving one, known for his relentless pace and quality performances. He also touched on Holloway’s recent fight with Oliveira, noting Holloway’s resilience and the fact that a fight with Conor would be different, given McGregor’s precision timing and power. “Max Holloway can do a lot, but Conor is all about timing, and he has sneaky power. Everyone who has faced him says you feel the impact when he lands,” Du Plessis explained. He pointed out that Ilia Topuria’s knockout of Holloway proves that anything can happen in the octagon, but he remains curious about how McGregor will handle Holloway’s conditioning and pace.
When pressed about whether he would pick against McGregor given his time away from the sport and concerns about his cardio, Du Plessis stayed steadfast. “I’m rolling with ‘The Mac.’ I’ll never pick against him. I don’t count Max Holloway out—he’s an incredible fighter who deserves all the praise he receives—but my money isn’t going against Conor. Conor has that timing that sends shivers through opponents, and when he lands, the results can be decisive. It’s one of those fights where you know McGregor’s capability, and that makes it all the more compelling,” he said.
Du Plessis reiterated the core appeal of the McGregor-Holloway showdown: the potential for Conor to reassert himself on a championship trajectory and the broader narrative of a fighter who remains feared for his exacting timing and power. As UFC 329 approaches, fans can expect a bout that could redefine McGregor’s path at a new weight class, with Du Plessis among those monitoring the developments with keen interest.