​LAS VEGAS — Conor McGregor doesn’t always participate in fighter meetings with the UFC broadcast team during fight week. But in advance of UFC 329, McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) chose to make an appearance. Among those meetings, UFC play-by-play commentator Jon Anik has long been a central figure, emphasizing that valuable insights come not only from what a fighter says but also from how they carry themselves.
Anik spoke with both McGregor and his opponent, Max Holloway (27-9 MMA, 23-9 UFC), a few days before Saturday’s event at T-Mobile Arena. He shared his takeaways from those conversations when he spoke with MMA Junkie and other reporters on the UFC Hall of Fame red carpet on Thursday.
“In many of you know that Max Holloway told me in 2021 that he wanted to take a fight at middleweight before all was said and done,” Anik said. “Not only am I not surprised to see him at 170, I’m not surprised that he looks very good as a welterweight. If you saw the picture of him with Robert Whittaker, they look like they’re the same size. We don’t always get a fighter meeting with Conor McGregor. We had a fighter meeting with Conor, and I asked him, ‘Why are you back?’ He’s back to prove his love of the game.”
When you have financial freedom like he does, with a Bank of America or Bank of Ireland checking account that’s that robust, you don’t willingly sign up to get punched in the face by Max Holloway unless you’re trying to bolster your MMA legacy and prove your love of the game. I couldn’t have been more impressed by Conor in our fighting meeting. I know people are more concerned with actions than words. But if the words are a tell, lean into them. Because he was great.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie and provides Jon Anik’s inside perspective on UFC 329’s fighter meeting with Conor McGregor, offering deeper context for fans and readers seeking insight into the dynamics of fight-week storytelling and athlete presentation.