Charles Oliveira Claims Conor McGregor Handpicked Max Holloway Over Him for UFC 329 Return

Remember when Conor McGregor sported a Brazilian flag-themed mouthguard during his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in 2021? The move appeared to be a calculated attempt to catch the attention of then-newly crowned UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira, who had captured the vacant title by defeating Michael Chandler at UFC 262. Had McGregor defeated Poirier in their Sin City rubber match, he likely would have secured an immediate shot at the 155-pound title. 

The customized mouthguard seemed to hint at exactly where his focus was: a blockbuster showdown with Oliveira. However, those plans came crashing down when McGregor suffered a gruesome leg break at the end of the opening round, bringing the fight to a premature conclusion. The long-anticipated matchup with Oliveira never materialized, as McGregor did not return to UFC competition for years. 

Now, ‘The Notorious’ is finally set to make his Octagon comeback against Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11 during International Fight Week. Despite the passage of time, Oliveira still appears interested in securing a lucrative fight against the Irish superstar. In fact, the former lightweight champion recently suggested that McGregor deliberately chose Holloway over him for his return bout.

Speaking to Action Network, Oliveira said, “He actually asked for the fight to be three rounds, and he picked the opponent. Because, in reality, everyone knows that fight was supposed to be against me, but he chose the opponent. That’s part of the game. You’ve got to choose what you think is best for you.”

Charles Oliveira says he was supposed to fight Conor McGregor, but Conor chose to fight Max Holloway instead:

“[Conor] actually asked for the fight to be three rounds and he picked the opponent. Because, in reality, everyone knows that fight was supposed to be against me, but he… pic.twitter.com/yrMCidZJpc

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 25, 2026

Oliveira’s argument carries some weight. After all, he delivered a dominant performance against Max Holloway at UFC 326, capturing the BMF title in convincing fashion. Based on that showing, there was a strong case for ‘Do Bronx’ to be the man welcoming McGregor back to the Octagon. Instead, the Irish superstar opted for a rematch with Holloway, likely due to the history they share.

McGregor and Holloway first met in August 2013, when the Irishman defeated the future featherweight king early in both men’s UFC careers. The bout was notable not only for the result but also because both fighters competed through adversity. Holloway entered the contest with an ankle injury, while McGregor famously tore his ACL during the fight, an injury that ultimately required surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation process. Despite the significance of their first encounter, the two fan favorites never met again inside the cage. 

Following his defeat to McGregor, Holloway embarked on one of the greatest runs in UFC history, winning 13 consecutive fights while capturing the featherweight title and successfully defending it multiple times. Over the years, the Hawaiian has built a Hall of Fame-caliber resume and later transitioned to the lightweight division, where he currently holds a 1-1 record, highlighted by a memorable victory over Justin Gaethje and a loss to Oliveira.

Conor really wore a Brazilian themed mouthpiece at UFC 264. He had the Charles call out ready 💀 pic.twitter.com/l1R6MwE8SG

— Full Violence ™ (@Full_Violence) May 19, 2026

Meanwhile, Oliveira appears ready to shift his focus back to championship gold. After Gaethje stunned Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 to claim the undisputed lightweight title, the Brazilian has made it clear that he wants a shot at the new champion. With Gaethje reportedly not expected to compete again in 2026 and McGregor choosing a different opponent for his return, Oliveira believes the most logical path is to wait for a title opportunity in 2027, potentially challenging for both the lightweight and BMF belts in a blockbuster showdown and a rematch from their iconic UFC 274 encounter four years ago.