All-time MMA great Jose Aldo has weighed in on Conor McGregor’s UFC return.
The Irishman is going to return to the octagon next month in the main event of UFC 329 to run it back with Max Holloway. The bout will be a five-round welterweight clash.
The first time “The Notorious” and “Blessed” met in 2013, the former secured a dominant, unanimous decision victory despite tearing his ACL. However, the narrative heading into the UFC 329 rematch is very different.
Since Conor McGregor has not entered the octagon in five years following the devastating leg injury he suffered against Dustin Poirier in 2021, oddsmakers, fans, and much of the MMA community have increasingly written him off.
However, his former opponent, Jose Aldo, whom “The Notorious” knocked out in just 13 seconds at UFC 194 in 2015, believes McGregor will not be easy game for Max Holloway.
Jose Aldo believes Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2 will be “very competitive”
During a recent exclusive interview with Covers.com, the longest-reigning UFC featherweight kingpin, Jose Aldo, opined that Conor McGregor has been out of the game for years, but that also makes him a mysterious opponent, as no one truly knows how good he still is.
“Is Conor the biggest underdog since Khabib? Yes, I think so. Because nobody really knows where he’s at. Nobody can accurately predict what kind of performance he’s going to deliver. It could be a ten out of ten or a five out of ten, we simply don’t know.”
According to the UFC Hall of Famer, it’s possible that on fight night, “The Notorious” could come out sharp, find his rhythm early, and deliver a strong performance. However, “Junior” also noted that the 37-year-old could struggle to deal with Holloway’s pace and speed.
“At the start of the fight, he [Conor McGregor] could find his rhythm, land some good shots, and win. But he could also struggle to find Max and suddenly think, “This is a problem.” Then he starts fighting more cautiously, holding back a bit. It’s a complete unknown.”
Lastly, the 39-year-old Brazilian legend added that the Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2 UFC 329 bout would likely be a competitive fight, and the Irishman has a better chance of beating Holloway in 2026 than he had of beating Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018.
“The difference compared to the Khabib fight is that, even when McGregor was in his prime, I already considered Khabib a huge favourite. This situation is different. Today, I see a slight edge for Max because he’s active, fighting regularly, and staying sharp, while he’s facing a man who’s returning after a very long absence. For me, it’s a very competitive fight. McGregor may be the betting underdog, but honestly, I think he has a better chance of beating Max today than he had of beating Khabib back then.”
Previously, McGregor’s former opponent, Dustin Poirier, also stated that when the former UFC double champ returns next month, he will still carry the same level of power and precision. Because of that, he cannot be counted out.
Many believe that “The Notorious” needs to find his rhythm and aim to end the bout early, as in the championship rounds, he could struggle with cardio due to ring rust, while Holloway thrives in chaos in the championship rounds.
Even Alexander Volkanovski has suggested that Conor McGregor’s left hand is still capable of ending the fight and putting Max Holloway in serious trouble at UFC 329. However, given the amount of time McGregor has spent on the sidelines, and “Blessed” has continued to evolve, “The Great” believes Holloway has a better chance of beating the Irishman this time.
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