Du Plessis backs McGregor's 'sneaky power' to end Holloway in UFC comeback

Dricus Du Plessis has backed Conor McGregor’s punching power and ring timing to be the decisive factors when the two-time UFC champion faces Max Holloway at International Fight Week, marking McGregor’s first octagon appearance in five years after a career-threatening leg break.

McGregor and Holloway are meeting for the first time since August 2013, when McGregor won by decision at UFC Fight Night 26. The 37-year-old’s return has been building since he suffered a severe leg fracture in his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier, and Du Plessis believes the Irishman retains a quality that has troubled every opponent he has faced.

“Max Holloway, massive fan, love him. He’s a great fighter and he’s deserving of everything he’s gotten, and all the praise,” Du Plessis said. “But I can’t go against Conor. I honestly believe Conor has that scary timing — everybody that has fought him says that. And he has that sneaky power. Everybody that fights him says that when he hits you, you feel it. It just takes one. Ilia knocked out Max, so it can be done. I don’t know what Conor is doing for that tank, but he needs to figure that out because Max Holloway does not stop.”

Tensions between the two fighters were already running high before fight night. At Thursday’s press conference the pair had to be separated after McGregor threw Holloway’s sunglasses into the crowd during their face-off. McGregor used the occasion to issue a stark warning to his opponent.

“I’m in my prime now and forever. Bring it on, Saturday night, you’re going to see violence, you’re gonna see a ferocious man,” McGregor said. “I find it disrespectful that Holloway wants a trilogy — I find it shows he is here for the economics of it. He must not realise the danger he is in. I forecast Holloway’s retirement, not a trilogy for cash.”

Holloway, 34, enters the fight off the back of a UFC 326 defeat to Charles Oliveira in March, though he had previously beaten Poirier for the BMF title last July. The Hawaiian said he is preparing for the most dangerous version of his opponent. “I believe him, he’s doing all the right things, he found God, we’re getting ready for a dangerous Conor McGregor,” Holloway said.

Also on the card, Liverpool lightweight Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett features in the co-main event against Benoit Saint-Denis as he looks to bounce back from his loss to Justin Gaethje and resume his climb up the 155-pound rankings.