Conor McGregor’s blueprint for facing Max Holloway at UFC 329 must include one way for the Irish superstar to nullify a key threat for his return to the octagon.
That is according to UFC legend Rashad Evans, who previewed next month’s Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway fight alongside retired MMA fighter Jorge Masvidal.
UFC 329 will mark the end of McGregor’s absence from the world of combat sports after the 37-year-old Irish MMA fighter has not fought in the octagon since 2021.
McGregor has not won since his encounter with Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 in 2020 and has lost in his last two fights against Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 and UFC 264.
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Rashad Evans on Conor McGregor’s return to welterweight and Max Holloway’s best approach against the Irishman
Conor McGregor’s stunning first-round TKO win over Donald Cerrone was the last time that the ‘Notorious’ climbed up to welterweight for a UFC bout.
The future UFC Hall of Famer’s rematch with Max Holloway will be held at welterweight as well, following on from their 2013 featherweight encounter.
Rashad Evans admitted that he expects McGregor to work out his best approach at fighting at welterweight again early into his five-round fight with Holloway in July.
“The timing and the speed, he’s going to figure it out right away,” he said on UFC on Paramount+.
Despite McGregor’s experience of fighting at welterweight on three previous occasions, Evans has warned the Irishman of Holloway’s ability to close the distance.
“He’s going to really have to do something to just keep Max from just walking him down and putting that combination on him,” Evans added.
“He’s going to have to hit him with something to let Max know that you’re just not going to walk through me like this.”
How high would Conor McGregor beating Max Holloway at UFC 329 rank among the best returns?
Rashad Evans on what will happen if Conor McGregor fails to stop Max Holloway from ‘walking him down’ at UFC 329
McGregor came out on top against Holloway when the pair first met in the octagon after the ex-dual champ picked up a unanimous decision win at UFC Fight Night 26.
Fast-forward from their featherweight fight to their welterweight encounter and Evans has said that McGregor cannot let Holloway walk him down at UFC 329.
“And if he doesn’t, it’s going to be a long fight for him because of the fact of how busy Max is,” Evans continued.
McGregor and Holloway will co-main event UFC 329 alongside Benoit Saint Denis and Paddy Pimblett’s lightweight fight on 11th July at the T-Mobile Arena.
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