Jorge Masvidal warns Conor McGregor's layoff could doom Max Holloway fight

Jorge Masvidal believes Conor McGregor's five-year layoff from competition will decide the outcome of his UFC 329 return against Max Holloway.

On a recent Paramount+ preview show, Masvidal joined Chris Weidman and Din Thomas to break down the welterweight main event set for July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. While McGregor has insisted he remains in his athletic prime, the former BMF champion said what the Irishman did during his time away will tell the story. "If you live that lifestyle, yes," Masvidal said, per Sherdog. "If you're in the gym, you're training, or even if you're not in the gym, you're f*cking running your miles, you're lifting your weights, you're getting your heart rate up there to what the heart rate of a fight will be like, should be, you know, all right. You can do some amazing things."

Masvidal's take on McGregor's prep during hiatus

Masvidal offered a blunter scenario if McGregor was less disciplined. "But if you haven't, if you've been on f*cking yachts, snorting coke, chasing chicks, and you want to fight Max Holloway, I don't think so," he added. The Miami native stressed that staying sharp outside competition requires consistent cardiovascular work and training intensity that mirrors fight night demands.

McGregor and Holloway first met 13 years ago as rising featherweights. Both fighters are looking to snap losing streaks when they run it back at welterweight. McGregor has not fought since his 2021 trilogy loss to Dustin Poirier, which ended in a broken leg. Holloway is coming off a BMF title loss to Ilia Topuria at UFC 300 last year.

UFC 329 airs live on Paramount+ this Saturday night from Las Vegas.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Jorge Masvidal warns Conor McGregor’s layoff could decide Max Holloway fight