​Conor McGregor faces a formidable comeback test as he prepares to challenge Max Holloway for a second time at UFC 329. Holloway is a tough opponent for anyone, particularly for a fighter who hasn’t stepped into the cage in five years. Yet, Dana White defended the UFC’s decision to keep McGregor right at the center of the sport’s attention, insisting that top-tier fighters deserve to face the best, regardless of timing. In a conversation with The Mac Life, White argued that there would be no “tune-up” fights for McGregor, or for that matter for any of the elite athletes on its roster. He emphasized that matchmaking at the sport’s upper echelons is driven by the desire to compete against the very best, not by سهلة steps or soft tests.
“You won’t see tune-up fights in boxing anymore either,” White remarked, referencing Zuffa Boxing’s efforts, and then added, “So there you go, we’ll make you very happy. This is not a tune-up fight. It’s not what we do. And it’s not something Conor would want to do either. When you’re at the level that both of these guys are, you want to fight the best.” White noted that while McGregor had publicly questioned whether the UFC would push him back into action quickly, the promoter suggested there were ambitious plans for him if he could win on the night. “Anything is possible if he wins on Saturday night,” he stated, underscoring that a victory would represent a major leap forward in either fighter’s career. “Whoever wins on Saturday night, it’s a big win and a big step up in their careers, especially at this point in time. These are two guys who have done it all. So I’ve got like five scenarios in my head if Conor wins and I’ve got like three for Max if Max wins. So it’s huge for both of them.”
White also reflected on the unpredictability of the sport, praising the surprising trajectories that have defined MMA’s history. “The thing that I love about the sport is, like, who saw the White House coming? Who knew that would happen? I didn’t see this fight coming; last year I was telling you guys I thought he would fight and then he didn’t, so then I was thinking he wouldn’t fight, and so it’s what keeps this thing fun. We have an idea of what we think the rest of the year looks like, but things will happen that we don’t see coming.” He acknowledged rumors and questions over whether the UFC had mismanaged McGregor’s return or kept him in limbo to avoid free agency, but he offered a defense of the promotion’s approach. “Conor is a great business partner,” White said. “If you told me, ‘Say something bad about Conor.’ The only thing that I could say is he doesn’t show up on time. And today, he was early. He was early today. I was getting text from him, he was bitching at me. ‘I wanna get this thing going on time.’”
White asserted that it’s impossible to criticize doing business with McGregor, noting that he is “the biggest star in the sport ever,” with his presence lifting the entire sport. He described the press conference dynamic as one of the event’s standout attractions, comparing the level of entertainment to legendary icons, and acknowledging that only a couple of figures in mixed martial arts could rival McGregor’s ticket-selling power and showmanship. In White’s view, the ongoing spectacle surrounding McGregor’s return to action—hype, anticipation, and rivalry—offers a reminder of why the sport captivates audiences and continues to grow.