Conor McGregor Hadapi Max Holloway pada UFC 329 di Las Vegas

Petarung Conor McGregor dijadwalkan kembali ke oktagon setelah absen selama lima tahun untuk menghadapi Max Holloway dalam laga ulang kelas welterweight pada laga utama UFC 329 di Las Vegas, Minggu, 12 Juli 2026.

Pertemuan ini menjadi rematch setelah McGregor mengalahkan Holloway lewat keputusan juri pada tahun 2013 di kelas featherweight, dengan catatan performa terkini di mana McGregor hanya menang sekali dari empat laga terakhirnya sedangkan Holloway baru saja kalah dari Charles Oliveira Maret lalu.

Sejumlah petarung profesional MMA memberikan prediksi mereka terkait jalannya laga besar ini, termasuk juara kelas berat UFC dan mantan juara asal Inggris.

"McGregor is up against it in an active guy like Holloway but the power never leaves you. McGregor could finish it in one shot." kata Tom Aspinall, Juara kelas berat UFC.

Aspinall memprediksi petarung Irlandia tersebut memiliki peluang besar untuk menumbangkan lawannya pada awal laga.

"There's definitely possibility of Holloway picking him off and moving but I'm favouring a McGregor win with a round one knockout." kata Tom Aspinall, Juara kelas berat UFC.

Aspinall menambahkan analisis taktis mengenai bagaimana kemenangan tersebut bisa diraih.

"I think he's going to land a big left on him." kata Tom Aspinall, Juara kelas berat UFC.

Pandangan berbeda disampaikan oleh mantan petarung Inggris yang menilai faktor stamina dan durasi laga akan menyulitkan McGregor.

"Conor is used to these big moments but he's been away for five years and there is a new pressure that comes with it now." kata Michael Bisping, Juara pertama UFC asal Inggris.

Bisping memperkirakan ronde-ronde awal akan berlangsung sengit bagi kedua petarung.

"He will come out hot and hard, I think he'll be swinging. There might be a couple of troubling moments for Max Holloway but I think he'll get through it." kata Michael Bisping, Juara pertama UFC asal Inggris.

Bisping menilai situasi akan berbalik drastis bagi McGregor jika laga terus berlanjut ke babak akhir.

"I think Holloway survives the first round and then it gets really tough going and McGregor will be lucky to see the final bell." kata Michael Bisping, Juara pertama UFC asal Inggris.

Sementara itu, pandangan seimbang disampaikan oleh petarung kelas lightweight UFC mengenai skenario durasi pertarungan.

"If Conor catches Max early then I see him knocking him out. Max has been dropped in three of his last four and this is at welterweight so Conor will be big." kata Paddy Pimblett, Petarung lightweight UFC.

Pimblett menilai paruh kedua pertandingan akan menjadi momen dominasi bagi Holloway.

"But if it goes past the second then Max is going to piece him up and get a late finish or decision." kata Paddy Pimblett, Petarung lightweight UFC.

Mantan juara yang kini telah pensiun juga memberikan dukungannya kepada Holloway dengan menyoroti kemampuan pergulatan lawan.

"I'm going with Max for this one. He did get ragdolled by Charles Oliveira but Oliveira is a monster and I don't think Conor has the same skillset when it comes to grappling." kata Demetrious Johnson, Pensiunan juara UFC.

Di sisi lain, terdapat petarung yang memilih untuk tidak memihak dan hanya ingin menikmati jalannya laga.

"I'm looking forward to watching it as a fan. I want to back the Irishman, being part Irish but I also love Max Holloway. I'm just going to sit back and enjoy it." kata Lone'er Kavanagh, Petarung flyweight UFC.

Pensiunan kelas lightweight UFC lainnya memprediksi Holloway akan menghentikan perlawanan di ronde-ronde akhir.

"I'm going with Max Holloway as a late stoppage – probably round four." kata Paul Felder, Pensiunan lightweight UFC.

Felder menambahkan bahwa kondisi fisik McGregor akan sangat menentukan jalannya sepuluh menit pertama pertarungan.

"If Conor comes in phenomenal shape then maybe a decision. I'd love to see the point down but I think if Max wins it will be a late stoppage." kata Paul Felder, Pensiunan lightweight UFC.

Felder melihat adanya potensi penurunan stamina dari pihak McGregor seiring berjalannya waktu.

"Conor will be difficult to deal with in the first 10 minutes but then he'll fade and, as he crumbles a bit, Max will get it." kata Paul Felder, Pensiunan lightweight UFC.

Dukungan serupa untuk Holloway datang dari petarung kelas lightweight asal Prancis terkait durasi pertarungan.

"It's a huge fight. Conor hasn't been fighting for a long time and I think the longer the fight lasts it will favour Max Holloway." kata Benoit Saint-Denis, Petarung lightweight UFC.

Sebaliknya, juara kelas middleweight UFC menegaskan kesetiaannya untuk selalu mendukung pihak McGregor.

"I'm going with the Mac. I'm never going against him. I'm never going against Conor." kata Dricus du Plessis, Petarung middleweight UFC.

Du Plessis menyatakan hal tersebut meskipun dirinya juga sangat menghormati pencapaian karir Holloway.

"I'm a massive Max Holloway fan, he's a great fighter and he's deserving of everything he's got and all the praise. But I can't go against Conor." kata Dricus du Plessis, Petarung middleweight UFC.

Penilaian mengenai batas krusial dua ronde pertama kembali ditegaskan oleh petarung kelas lightweight lainnya.

"If Conor doesn't get him out of there in the first two rounds then Max by a clear decision or a TKO in the fourth round." kata Terrance McKinney, Petarung lightweight UFC.

Sementara itu, faktor berat badan dan kesiapan mental di dalam ring menjadi sorotan analisis yang berimbang.

"I'm 50/50 on it. We don't know what Conor will show up." kata Bobby Green, Petarung lightweight UFC.

Green membandingkan keuntungan fisik McGregor dengan rekam jejak kerja keras yang telah dilalui oleh Holloway.

"Everything is in Conor's favour where he doesn't have to cut weight but Max is the guy who has put the work in and been in the trenches." kata Bobby Green, Petarung lightweight UFC.

Green menambahkan bahwa faktor akurasi pukulan dari petarung Irlandia tersebut tetap tidak boleh diremehkan.

"I'm kind of on the side of Max but that shot Conor has and his timing is key." kata Bobby Green, Petarung lightweight UFC.

Dukungan untuk Holloway juga mengalir dari kelas light-heavyweight yang melihat kesiapan bertarung dalam lima ronde penuh.

"I'm going to be backing Max. I think he gets it done, he's been battle tested, he's been in the game, he's had these five-round fights and he's had to battle through it." kata Robert Whittaker, Petarung light-heavyweight UFC.

Sebaliknya, analisis mengenai keunggulan ukuran tubuh di kelas 170 pon membuat seorang petarung yakin McGregor akan menang cepat.

"If the fight goes ahead, I can't see it going anywhere other than a Conor McGregor win. He's too big at 170lb, Max Holloway is a big guy but he won't have the power Conor has." kata Mason Jones, Petarung lightweight UFC.

Jones meyakini daya pukul McGregor mampu menyudahi perlawanan sebelum laga usai, meskipun ada kecemasan soal stamina.

"I can see Conor putting Max away within three rounds. Conor's gas tank is a worry but I'm backing The Notorious." kata Mason Jones, Petarung lightweight UFC.

Kondisi fisik akibat absen lama kembali menjadi alasan utama prediksi kemenangan Holloway dari kelas bantamweight.

"Max will probably win because the conditioning will be a big deal and Conor not fighting for a long time will be a big deal." kata Cory Sandhagen, Petarung bantamweight UFC.

Rekan sekelasnya di bantamweight turut menyepakati bahwa durasi laga yang panjang akan sangat menguntungkan pihak Holloway.

"I've got Max Holloway. The longer it goes it's going to play into Max's hands." kata Mario Bautista, Petarung bantamweight UFC.

Prediksi terakhir datang dari petarung kelas berat yang mengagumi status legenda dari kedua petarung namun tetap menjatuhkan pilihan pada Holloway.

"Conor is a legend but so is Max. As much as I'd love to say Conor I have to go with Max on this one." kata Gable Steveson, Petarung heavyweight UFC.

Selain laga utama tersebut, rangkaian UFC 329 juga akan menyajikan pertandingan co-main event antara Paddy Pimblett melawan Benoit Saint Denis di kelas lightweight.