Former UFC champion Charles Oliveira has weighed in on Conor McGregor’s return against Max Holloway at UFC 329, and his read is simple as the first round may decide how dangerous McGregor can be across the rest of the fight.
Oliveira, speaking to Action Network, said, “If Conor McGregor doesn’t get a first round KO, Holloway has the advantage.” He added, “Max is a guy who’s been going five rounds in his recent fights. He handles five rounds very well. Conor has been inactive for a long time.” That view lines up with the long-running discussion around McGregor’s game, which has often centered on his early power and fast starts, while Holloway has built his name on pressure, volume, and comfort over extended rounds.
Oliveira also suggested McGregor’s team made careful choices for this comeback. He 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.”
Charles Oliveira Gets Honest About Conor McGregor Ahead of Max Holloway Fight
Oliveira continued, “That’s part of the game. You’ve got to choose what you think is best for you. The fight is going to be at 77 kilos. Honestly, I think the first round will tell us a lot.” His point is that the conditions of the matchup could help McGregor, while the later stages could shift toward Holloway if the Irish star cannot impose himself early.
Oliveira expanded on that theme by focusing on Holloway’s movement and the weight class setup. He said, “If he doesn’t get the knockout or put on a very dominant performance in the first round, then the later rounds tend to favour Max Holloway because of his speed and because he won’t need to cut weight.”
Even so, Oliveira made clear that McGregor’s pull remains huge, saying, “But, as I always say, Conor is one of the guys who made history and helped raise the profile of the sport. The arena is going to be packed. It’s going to be magical.” That tracks with the way McGregor has been covered for years: as a fighter whose drawing power reaches beyond the cage because he can sell events at a level few in MMA have matched.
Oliveira’s final comments were split between respect and criticism. He said, “Conor McGregor is an 100% athlete – I just hate the way he sells fights.” He then added, “I think it’s difficult for him to become exactly like the old Conor again. But Conor will always be Conor. He’s a guy who hits hard, moves well and knows how to sell a fight better than anyone.”
Oliveira closed by separating McGregor’s skill set from the persona he presents in public. He said, “It’s what I always tell people: Conor as an athlete is 100% in my eyes. What I don’t like is the way he promotes fights. But I don’t know him personally.”
McGregor is set to make his comeback against Max Holloway at UFC 329 on June 27, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight is scheduled at 77 kilograms, adding another layer to the matchup as Holloway comes in without a harsh weight cut while McGregor returns for his first UFC appearance in years.
He continued, “I’ve never had the chance to spend time around him and find out whether he’s genuinely a good guy or whether it’s all just a character. Because a lot of people say he’s actually a good person. So the only thing I don’t like is the way he sells a fight. Apart from that, for me, he’s 100%.” In that sense, Oliveira’s take lands in a familiar place: respect for McGregor the competitor, skepticism about McGregor the showman, and real intrigue about whether his comeback can still hold up once the fight goes past the opening burst.
