McGregor vs Holloway: Who gets next if Mac wins at UFC 329?

Conor McGregor fights Max Holloway at UFC 329 in two weeks, but the buzz around the Irishman's return feels muted compared to his previous comebacks.

MMA Mania fielded reader questions about the July 27 card at T-Mobile Arena, with one correspondent asking whether McGregor's five-year layoff and damaged reputation have dulled the excitement. Staff writer Tim Edwards said the promotion feels similar to Ronda Rousey's final fight against Amanda Nunes, like everyone is trying to get through it. "I think a lot of fans are over the McGregor show at this point," Edwards wrote in the site's Friday mailbag.

Holloway carrying the weight

Edwards suggested that Holloway is doing more to generate genuine interest in the matchup than McGregor, whose last fight came in 2021. The 38-year-old has two bouts remaining on his UFC contract, and Edwards speculated that McGregor is eager to fulfill the deal so he can pursue exhibition fights or appearances in other promotions. A poll run by MMA Mania showed 33 percent of respondents selecting "meh" when asked about their excitement level for the fight, the most popular answer among six options.

Another staffer, Andrew Richardson, said fame lasts a long time in combat sports and predicted the card will still draw a large audience despite McGregor's circumstances. Richardson compared the situation to the Rousey-Gina Carano bout, which succeeded on name value alone. Edwards countered that the casual fanbase has shrunk significantly since McGregor's peak a decade ago, meaning fewer eyes will be watching even if the hardcore crowd tunes in.

UFC 329 is set for July 27 in Las Vegas, with the McGregor-Holloway bout serving as the main event.

Photo: Cpl. Samantha Sanchez / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Original reporting:

• mmamania.com — Mania Mailbag: If Mac beats Max, who got next? | MMA Mania