One of Conor McGregor’s biggest rivals believes his five-year hiatus will lead to him declining a potentially viral moment at UFC 329.
Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor is, as of this writing, just weeks away from his highly anticipated return to the Octagon at UFC 329. McGregor and former BMF titleholder Max Holloway headline an intriguing card for the UFC’s annual International Fight Week event in Las Vegas.
For McGregor, it’ll be his first UFC appearance since injuring his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in 2021, almost five years to the day removed from his upcoming scheduled return. After a quick ascent in the UFC seldom seen in Mixed Martial Arts history, his stock has wobbled a bit in recent years, as he’s lost three of his last four fights.
For Holloway, it’s another chance to earn a marquee win and steal the spotlight from McGregor in Las Vegas. He’s looking for revenge after losing to McGregor in a featherweight bout earlier in their careers.
The former BMF champion Holloway could potentially try to lure McGregor into a last-second barn fight with his patented ‘point down’, if the fight makes it that far. If that’s the case, one of McGregor’s biggest rivals believes the UFC superstar won’t oblige, for one specific reason.
Dustin Poirier: Conor McGregor ‘won’t be in shape’ for potential Max Holloway point
In a recent episode of Deep Waters, Dustin Poirier was asked how the fight could play out in the final seconds if neither McGregor nor Holloway gets an early finish.
“If it does go all five rounds, and there’s a ‘point down’ in the last 10 seconds, I don’t think Conor is going to be in physical shape to throw down with Max,” Poirier said of McGregor vs. Holloway.
“Max is still fast at the end of the fight. I don’t clinch people, especially the last 10 seconds of my retirement fight, but I was like ‘Dude I’m not getting slept or getting hurt here’.
“And it’s not for show. That 10-second thing, Max is really cut from that cloth, he’s going to give you the opportunity if you can land the shot on him. He’s going to throw crazy, and it’s real.”
If McGregor is victorious at UFC 329, don’t be surprised if Poirier is the former’s callout target in his post-fight interview. Poirier recently admitted that he would entertain a fourth showdown with McGregor and end his retirement.
What is your prediction for Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2? Let us know in the comments!
