Max Holloway responds to career-first obstacle he faces against Conor McGregor at UFC 329

Jun 9, 2026 - 17:15

Max Holloway isn’t bothered that his blockbuster fight against Conor McGregor is being contested in the welterweight division.

Despite the UFC 329 main event marking the first time ‘Blessed’ has fought at 170lbs, the Hawaiian has emphasised ‘weight is just a number’ ahead of his clash with McGregor.

Max Holloway receives the BMF belt from Mark Coleman in the BMF championship fight during the UFC 300 event at T-Mobile Arena on April 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada — Holloway won the promotion’s BMF title at lightweight and is a former UFC featherweight champion – but his bout against McGregor is at 170lbs

Holloway has fought the majority of his career at featherweight (145lbs), becoming a dominant champion in the division between 2016 and 2019.

When he dropped the title and failed to reclaim it in three fights with Alexander Volkanovski, the 34-year-old moved up to lightweight (155lbs) to face Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.

After delivering one of the sport’s most iconic moments through a dramatic knockout of Gaethje, Holloway tried and failed to reclaim the UFC featherweight belt against Ilia Topuria in October 2024.

He has since moved back up to lightweight, trading a win and a loss with Dustin Poirier and Charles Oliveira, but is now set for a career-first fight in the 170lbs division against McGregor.

It’s the only real factor that members of the MMA fraternity believe could prove a disadvantage for Holloway, who is the overwhelming favourite for the clash on July 11.

However, Holloway has revealed he’s not one bit concerned about the weight class he’ll fight McGregor in.

Blessed as usual

“My thoughts on the fight being at 170 were like, who cares?” Holloway said on his YouTube channel.

“Weight is just a number. Real gladiators back in the day, they didn’t walk around with a scale.

“You show up and you fight, and I’m a fighter. Open weight class, whatever weight class. I’m glad I get to share the Octagon with him…

“Weight ain’t nothing but a number.”

Max Holloway gets pushed driven up against the cage by Charles Oliveira — Holloway was dominated by Oliveira last time out in March – but he’s still expected to get the job done against McGregor on July 11

McGregor returns to the UFC for the July 11 fight, which takes place during the promotion’s International Fight Week, for the first time in over five years.

The Irishman hasn’t fought since breaking his leg against Poirier in his trilogy bout with the American at UFC 264.

He was scheduled to make a comeback in June 2024 against Michael Chandler, but withdrew on short notice due to an injured foot.

McGregor has said he’s feeling ‘better than ever’ ahead of his comeback, highlighting how he is prepared for all scenarios, should he face another serious injury in the Octagon.

The last man to fight him, Poirier, who has also faced Holloway twice in his career, believes McGregor needs to catch his opponent early if he has any hope of coming out victorious at UFC 329.

Ticket prices for the event are as high as $24,000 for one seat at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

Holloway said ‘weight is just a number’ when discussing his fight against McGregor coming in the welterweight division at 170lbs

UFC Schedule

For all the upcoming fights and results this year, check out talkSPORT.com’s UFC schedule.

The card also features a mouthwatering lightweight title eliminator between Paddy Pimblett and France’s Benoit Saint Denis.

Brits Lone’er Kavanagh and Luke Riley are also booked for respective bouts, and highly-touted American heavyweight prospect Gable Steveson makes his UFC debut.