{"id":18,"date":"2026-06-25T06:47:09","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T06:47:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/mma\/?p=18"},"modified":"2026-06-25T13:35:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T13:35:12","slug":"ian-garry-backs-conor-mcgregor-to-capitalize-on-max-holloways-welterweight-debut-at-ufc-329","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/mma\/2026\/06\/25\/ian-garry-backs-conor-mcgregor-to-capitalize-on-max-holloways-welterweight-debut-at-ufc-329\/","title":{"rendered":"Ian Garry Backs Conor McGregor to Capitalize on Max Holloway\u2019s Welterweight Debut at UFC 329\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

With UFC 329 less than three weeks away, fans are eagerly anticipating the return of Conor McGregor, who is set to face Max Holloway in a welterweight main event during the promotion’s International Fight Week card on July 11. One of the biggest questions surrounding McGregor’s comeback is his prolonged inactivity. The former two-division champion has not competed inside the Octagon since July 2021, when his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier ended in disaster after he suffered a gruesome leg break.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

McGregor was originally scheduled to make his long-awaited return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in 2024, but those plans were scrapped after he sustained a broken toe just weeks before the event. In contrast, Holloway has remained one of the UFC’s most active elite fighters. Since McGregor’s last appearance, the Hawaiian has stepped into the cage eight times, taking on a murderer’s row of opponents that includes Alexander Volkanovski, Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, Ilia Topuria, and Dustin Poirier.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, a key talking point heading into UFC 329 is the weight class. Every one of Holloway’s recent fights has taken place at either featherweight or lightweight. Against McGregor, he will make his welterweight debut, a factor that Ian Machado Garry believes could significantly alter the dynamics of the matchup. According to Garry, McGregor’s power will be even more dangerous at 170 pounds.<\/span><\/p>\n

Speaking on <\/span>The Ariel Helwani Show<\/span><\/a>, Garry said, <\/span>“It’s not an easy fight. Max is very good at what he does. He’s obviously been in there against the best guys in the world repeatedly over and over and over again. But, whilst Conor has been inactive, the hunger will start to thrive in his mind and in his skull. And at 170 pounds, I think this fight is very, very interesting. Conor is going to have the knockout power.”<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

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\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea\u270a Ian Garry believes that Conor McGregor wins Max Holloway:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not an easy fight. Max is very good at what he does. He\u2019s obviously been in there against the best guys in the world repeatedly.<\/p>\n

But whilst Conor has been inactive, the hunger will start to thrive in his mind\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/rCpQvQVRel<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) June 22, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n