UFC 329 predictions: Best bets for Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway

After five years away from the Octagon, the UFC’s biggest superstar in its history, Conor McGregor, finally steps back in the cage to headline the 2026 UFC International Fight Week card, UFC 329.

McGregor, the former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion, returns to take on another legendary name in former lightweight and BMF champion Max Holloway. This will be a rematch of their first meeting back in August 2013, a bout McGregor won by unanimous decision. This bout will also take place at welterweight – marking the fourth time McGregor has fought at the weight class, and Holloway’s first.

McGregor last fought at UFC 264 in July 2021, a bout that saw him break his leg in a loss to Dustin Poirier in their trilogy bout. McGregor is just 1-3 since his first hiatus from the UFC – when he fought Floyd Mayweather during a two-year break from the Octagon.

Holloway went unbeaten for nearly six years after losing to McGregor, going on to become one of the UFC’s greatest featherweight champions. He’s just 7-6 since the end of that streak, however. He added the BMF title to his mantle but lost that belt to Charles Oliveira four months ago at UFC 326.

The co-main event will be a pivotal lightweight battle between Benoit Saint Denis and Paddy Pimblett. BSD enters this fight having won four straight, scoring finishes of Kyle Prepolec, Mauricio Ruffy, Beneil Dariush and Dan Hooker. Pimblett, meanwhile, enters this fight after suffering his first UFC loss, coming up short in an interim lightweight title fight with current champ Justin Gaethje in the UFC 324 main event.

The rest of the main card includes Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista, Brandon Royval vs. Lone’er Kavanagh, and King Green vs. Terrance McKinney.

CONOR MCGREGOR VS MAX HOLLOWAY

Conor McGregor is returning to the Octagon after a five-year hiatus, raising questions about whether his skills and vintage power remain intact against a highly evolved Max Holloway. However, Holloway faces his own questions regarding how he’ll look making yet another jump in weight division. And while UFC CEO and President Dana White said at the press conference that there are multiple scenarios in play regardless of who wins, it feels hard to imagine the UFC lets their most valuable fighter ever simply fight out his contract.

For McGregor to have a chance at securing victory, he has to use his reach and look for that vintage McGregor striking to secure an early KO. The longer the fight goes, the more it benefits “Blessed.” And if McGregor can’t get the job done in 10 minutes, maybe even the first five minutes, it’s likely Holloway could put a hurting on him when you add in five years of ring rust.

BET: Fight to NOT start Round 3 (DraftKings: +120)

BRANDON ROYVAL VS LONE’ER KAVANAGH

Brandon Royval is a fun flyweight fighter to watch, and he’ll be looking to rebound from his loss to Manel Kape. Royval is still a top flyweight contender, but he’s consistently losing to those who you’d consider the next-level and championship-level fighters. Lone’er Kavanagh’s UFC run is young. He’s just 10-1 in the sport, and after the upset loss to Charles Johnson, he rebounded hugely with his win over former champion Brandon Moreno.

Even with the KO loss to Kape, Royval is still one of the toughest flyweights, having had the Fight of the Year with current champ Joshua Van last year. And while Kavanagh has a lot of momentum on his side, Royval is still experienced and will pose a strong test to determine if Kavanagh is ready for upper-echelon competition.

BET: Fight to end via decision (DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, & BetMGM: -150)

LUKE RILEY VS KAI KAMAKA III

Luke Riley is a promising European prospect who has impressed so far in his first two UFC bouts. Now he takes on the always durable Kai Kamaka III, a Hawaiian fighter with a strong chin and strong fists. The speciality for both of these men comes in their stand-up game, so expect an entertaining war with practically no time on the ground. It’s another opportunity for Riley to impress.

BET: Riley via decision (FanDuel: +140)