Aspinall backs McGregor to land first-round KO on Holloway at UFC 329

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is backing Conor McGregor to knock out Max Holloway in the first round when the two meet at UFC 329 on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Aspinall shared his prediction on his YouTube channel, pointing to McGregor’s raw power as the decisive factor in a rematch between two fighters he believes are past their respective peaks. The Brit said he had been encouraged by McGregor’s recent public appearances, describing the Irishman as calm and focused ahead of his long-awaited return to the Octagon.

“I watched a couple of his interviews recently. He seems in a really good place,” Aspinall said. “I know it’s only an interview, but he does seem in a good place. When McGregor’s on form, he’s absolutely unreal. Absolutely unreal.”

Aspinall was candid in his assessment of both fighters’ current form. McGregor has been absent from competition for an extended period, while Holloway arrives off the back of a dominant defeat to Charles Oliveira in his most recent outing. Despite those caveats, Aspinall argued that McGregor’s power makes him dangerous regardless of ring rust.

“He’s beat Max Holloway before. Max Holloway, in my opinion, really, really good fighter,” Aspinall said. “Neither of them are the same fighter that they were like 10 years ago.”

The heavyweight king was unambiguous about where he sees the fight ending. “Power doesn’t leave,” he said. “He just needs one shot and it can be over. So I’m more favoring towards a McGregor win. I think Conor McGregor Round one knockout. I think he’s going to land the big left bomber on him.”

McGregor and Holloway first met in 2013, with McGregor winning by unanimous decision at a time when both men were still building their reputations in the featherweight division. The rematch at UFC 329 will take place at a catchweight, with McGregor returning after more than four years away from competition following a leg injury sustained against Dustin Poirier in 2021.