Usman Nurmagomedov Doubts Conor McGregor Makes UFC 329, But Says a Win Would Boost MMA
Usman Nurmagomedov is not fully convinced Conor McGregor will actually make it to his scheduled fight with Max Holloway.
McGregor vs Holloway 2 is currently set to headline UFC 329 on July 11, 2026, during International Fight Week in Las Vegas. The rematch is one of the biggest comeback stories in MMA, but Usman believes there is still a real chance McGregor does not reach fight night.
At the same time, he admitted that if McGregor does show up and wins, it would be good for the sport.
That is the strange reality of Conor McGregor in 2026: even when people doubt him, they still understand his value.
Usman Questions Whether McGregor Will Make It
McGregor has been away from the Octagon for years, and that inactivity has made many fighters and fans skeptical.
He has talked about returning before. Big fights have been discussed before. Training clips, interviews, and comeback hints have all created buzz. But until McGregor actually walks to the cage, some people will remain unsure.
Usman Nurmagomedov seems to be in that group.
His view is simple: Conor is still a huge name, but making it to fight night is the first challenge.
McGregor vs Holloway 2 Has Huge History
The rematch with Max Holloway is not just another fight.
McGregor and Holloway first fought back in 2013, when both were still early in their UFC journeys. McGregor won by decision, but both men later became legends in very different ways.
McGregor became the UFC’s biggest superstar and a two-division champion. Holloway became one of the greatest featherweights ever and built a reputation for toughness, volume, cardio, and elite striking.
Now, more than a decade later, the rematch carries a very different meaning.
For McGregor, it is about proving he can still compete at the highest level. For Holloway, it is about getting revenge and beating the biggest name in MMA.
Max Holloway is expected to enter the fight as the favorite, and it is easy to understand why.
He has been more active, more tested recently, and more consistent inside the cage. Holloway’s pace, durability, and striking volume could create serious problems for McGregor, especially if the fight goes into later rounds.
McGregor still has dangerous power and sharp timing, but the big question is whether those weapons are still the same after so much time away.
At his best, Conor was a sniper. But returning against Holloway is not an easy comeback.
Why a McGregor Win Would Be Massive
Usman may doubt whether McGregor makes the fight, but he still knows what a Conor win would mean.
If McGregor returns after years away and beats Holloway, it would instantly become one of the biggest MMA stories of the year. It would bring huge attention back to the sport, create new matchup possibilities, and remind fans why McGregor remains one of the most important names in UFC history.
A win would not just help McGregor.
It would help the entire UFC conversation.
Usman Nurmagomedov’s take on Conor McGregor’s return is realistic.
He is not fully convinced McGregor will make it to UFC 329, but he also understands the upside. If Conor does show up and beats Max Holloway, it would be a major moment for MMA.
McGregor vs Holloway 2 has history, star power, doubt, and danger.
Now the question is simple: will Conor actually make the walk — and if he does, can he shock the sport one more time?
