​Michael Bisping does not believe Conor McGregor will lean on his reach and size to wrestle Max Holloway at UFC 329. The main event on Saturday will see the two fighters meet at Las Vegas’s T-Mobile Arena, thirteen years after McGregor outpointed Holloway. Both men would later become featherweight champions and collect various form of gold at lightweight, yet Holloway has never fought at welterweight—the class where his Irish rival has competed three times.
Bisping’s assessment comes with the backdrop of McGregor’s five-year absence from the cage following a broken leg suffered in his most recent fight, a 2021 defeat to Dustin Poirier. Despite that layoff, the 37-year-old is anticipated to have a natural size advantage over Holloway, who is 34.
In discussing the fight, Bisping—who remains a UFC commentator—expects McGregor to rely on the power of his left hand rather than a grappling-dominated game plan. He spoke to The Independent, with insights from prediction market experts at casino.org/us, and explained why he doesn’t foresee a wrestling-heavy strategy from McGregor this time around. “I doubt it, I don’t think so,” Bisping said. “Wrestling is one of the most cardio-heavy aspects of mixed martial arts. It is so tiring trying to take down another human being that has good takedown defence. And Conor historically is very explosive but tends to fade as the fights go on, so I don’t think we’ll see Conor shooting [for a takedown]. I wouldn’t say it’s the smart approach, anyway. Conor’s best chance is to go out there, believe in his left hand, land the big shot, knock him out, and then—you know—blow the roof off the T-Mobile Arena. I don’t think anyone’s shooting for a takedown in that fight.”
There have been moments when McGregor did lean toward a wrestling-oriented approach in stretches of his first bout with Holloway, though that fight was also complicated by an injury that limited him. Bisping’s prediction reflects the broader view that, despite Holloway’s recent success at lightweight, McGregor’s path to victory lies in landing a decisive power shot rather than forcing a ground game.
For Holloway, this matchup represents a chance to extend his tenure at the top levels of the sport. He has spent most of his recent career at lightweight, where he held the “Baddest Motherf*****” title before losing it in his most recent bout, a one-sided decision loss to Charles Oliveira, who controlled the action on the ground over five rounds in March. Holloway is widely regarded as one of the sport’s all-time greats for his long, storied run at the featherweight limit, which featured two knockout victories over Jose Aldo—one of the most famous moments in UFC history when McGregor himself achieved the same feat in 13 seconds—as well as victories over former champion Anthony Pettis and numerous other high-caliber opponents.
McGregor has publicly stated his readiness for a return, saying this week that he has been away for five years and that his body is fresh and his mind sharp. He emphasized that he is excited to face a great opponent and acknowledged the favorable terms of the UFC deal, signaling a renewed focus and determination as he re-enters the cage after a lengthy hiatus.