Usman
Nurmagomedov doubts Conor
McGregor will turn up at UFC
329.
McGregor is scheduled to return to action after five years in a
welterweight matchup against Max
Holloway (27-9) at UFC 329 on July 11 at the T-Mobile Arena in
Las Vegas. However, Nurmagomedov doesn’t think McGregor will show
up on fight night. In case McGregor does show up, Nurmagomedov
believes he will lose to Holloway. The PFL lightweight champion
believes five years is too long of a layoff for McGregor. However,
Nurmagomedov believes MMA will benefit if McGregor manages to win.
According to Nurmagomedov, McGregor will bring more fans to the
sport with his exceptional mic skills.
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“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.”
While McGregor (22-6) has never been on good terms with the
Dagestani squad, Nurmagomedov has enough reason to be skeptical
about his return even otherwise. McGregor hasn’t fought since
breaking his leg in a trilogy loss against Dustin
Poirier in 2021. While “Notorious” recovered within a year, he
strayed far away from the discipline of a professional athlete.
However, that didn’t stop him from teasing a return multiple times,
albeit it never came to fruition. McGregor was even booked to fight
Michael
Chandler at UFC 303 in 2024, only to pull out due to a toe
injury.
Meanwhile, Nurmagomedov (21-0) will look to defend his lightweight
title against fellow undefeated fighter Archie
Colgan (13-0) at
PFL New Yorkon July 31 at the UBS Arena in Long Island, New
York.
🤔 Usman
Nurmagomedov says Conor
McGregor will probably NOT make it to his fight with Max
Holloway, but if he turns up and wins then it’s good for
MMA.(via @Home_of_Fight
/ @JakeNoecker)
pic.twitter.com/j1Swecx8cN— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight)
June 2, 2026