Conor McGregor’s confidence is never in short supply, and that remains the case as he moves closer to his return to the Octagon at UFC 329.
He is competing as a welterweight in the Saturday bout against Max Holloway (27-9) in Las Vegas, but McGregor (22-6) anticipates the result will only bolster his legacy built as a featherweight.
McGregor, 37, competed as a featherweight from 2013-15, highlighted by a 13-second championship knockout of Jose Aldo. It was his last win in the 145-pound class and he hasn’t tussled in a sanctioned MMA bout at all since 2021.
Conversations surrounding the greatest featherweight ever usually include Aldo, current UFC champion Alexander Volkanovski and even Holloway, much to McGregor’s chagrin.
“I have many things I have taken into this camp that have been fuel to my fire,” McGregor told ESPN. “One, the greatest featherweight of all time. This ranking system of the greatest featherweights; I’ve beaten these men, but I’m not on the list. How have I beaten these men easily and handedly, and been kept from the list?
“That’s why I love Max as an opponent. He has fought so many people. He has a very impressive body of work in the Octagon. He’s a future Hall of Famer. Now, I get to showcase my level.”
McGregor holds a three-round decision victory over Holloway, however that bout was in 2013 — and the latter was just 21 years old at the time.
McGregor last fought on July 10, 2021, losing by TKO to Dustin Poirier after breaking his leg during the final seconds of the first round. The fighters had split two earlier matches in the trilogy.
Another return was canceled when McGregor sustained a toe injury before his match with Michael Chandler scheduled for June 2024.
McGregor became the first UFC fighter to be champion simultaneously in two weight divisions in 2016. He knocked out Aldo for the featherweight belt in December 2015 and stopped Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight title in November 2016. He later was stripped of the featherweight title due to inactivity.
“That’s a fair shout for sure, and I understand the whys of it, but you cannot get caught in all of this,” McGregor said. “What is the skill? Who is the best? Who is the greatest? Who was the best? And it is me. The results show this. It’s not like the fights weren’t there. It was just elsewhere.
“There were divisional changes, which originally was not me. It was a fighter pulling out or things of that nature that kind of led to it. So, I understand it. However, I don’t agree with it. I am the greatest featherweight since Bruce Lee, and on Saturday night I will show it.”
Holloway, 34, is a former featherweight champion who has beaten Justin Gaethje, Aldo (twice), Poirier and Frankie Edgar.
–Field Level Media
