Usman Nurmagomedov doubts McGregor shows up at UFC 329, backs Holloway to win

Usman Nurmagomedov has cast doubt on Conor McGregor’s scheduled return at UFC 329, saying he does not expect the Irishman to show up on July 11 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas — and believes Holloway would win if he does.

McGregor (22-6) is booked for a welterweight bout against Max Holloway (27-9) at UFC 329, his first fight since breaking his leg in a trilogy loss to Dustin Poirier in 2021. That four-year absence, combined with a history of late withdrawals, underpins Nurmagomedov’s scepticism.

“First of all, I don’t believe he is gonna come,” Nurmagomedov told Home of Fight. “If he will, I don’t believe he’s gonna beat [Holloway]. Because five years he stayed away from the sport, this is too much, very long. If [Conor] beats [Holloway], it will be good for MMA. He will begin to talk and more fans come back.”

Nurmagomedov acknowledged that a McGregor victory would be a net positive for the sport, crediting the former two-weight UFC champion’s ability to draw casual audiences. The PFL lightweight champion stopped short of writing off the promotional value of a McGregor win, even while dismissing its likelihood.

McGregor’s road back has been stop-start. After recovering from the leg fracture within roughly a year, he repeatedly teased a comeback without following through. Most recently, he was booked to face Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June 2024 before withdrawing with a toe injury.

Nurmagomedov (21-0) has his own business to attend to before UFC 329 weekend arrives. The unbeaten Dagestani will defend his PFL lightweight title against fellow undefeated contender Archie Colgan (13-0) at PFL New York on July 31 at the UBS Arena in Long Island, New York.