Pederneiras sees McGregor with early edge but Holloway taking over if UFC 329 fight goes deep

Andre Pederneiras, the longtime coach of Jose Aldo, has offered a detailed breakdown of the Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway rematch headlining UFC 329 on Saturday, July 11, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas — and while he refused to name a winner, he is confident the fight stays on the feet.

Pederneiras, who has previously game-planned against both fighters during Aldo’s career, believes McGregor enters with a meaningful early advantage rooted in his knockout power. He pointed to Ilia Topuria’s stoppage of Holloway as evidence that the Hawaiian’s chin is no longer considered untouchable.

“In my opinion, Conor starts with the advantage, largely due to his knockout power. There was a belief that Holloway has a granite chin and never gets knocked out, but Topuria proved otherwise,” Pederneiras told Sherdog. “However, I believe that if the fight goes past the second round, the advantage shifts to Holloway, thanks to his excellent gas tank.”

Despite that nuanced read, Pederneiras stopped short of committing to either man as favourite. His only firm prediction concerns the style of the contest rather than its outcome.

“The only bet I’d make on this fight is that it stays standing, since neither fighter is fond of grappling,” he added.

McGregor and Holloway are meeting for the first time in 13 years, their original bout having taken place back in 2013. The rematch serves as the main event of UFC 329, with both men returning to the featherweight division that shaped much of their respective legacies — Aldo’s coach among the few people in the sport to have studied both fighters from the inside.