Dustin Poirier does not think Conor McGregor’s punching power is going anywhere, even after the long layoff and the leg injury that ended his last UFC fight.
In a clip from Weighing In, Poirier compared McGregor’s coming UFC return with Nate Diaz’s recent MMA comeback and then looked at the danger McGregor still brings against Max Holloway at UFC 329. Poirier expects McGregor to look better than Diaz, but he said the layoff leaves real questions about timing, movement, and sharpness.
Watch the clip below.
https://x.com/DovySimuMMA/status/2059723163269742633
“Yeah, I don’t think Conor’s going to look as bad as Nate,” Poirier said. “Well, that was really bad.”
Poirier Says McGregor’s Power Still Changes The Fight
McGregor has not fought since UFC 264 in July 2021, when his trilogy fight with Poirier ended by doctor stoppage after McGregor suffered a broken lower tibia. Before the long layoff, McGregor built his name on sharp southpaw counters, timing, pressure, and fight-ending left-hand power. His MMA record stands at 22-6, with 19 wins by knockout.
That is the part Poirier still respects.
“The thing that I think, the punching power is going to be there regardless,” Poirier said. “Conor’s going to come back from the injury and still have that natural punching power.”
Poirier said the harder questions are about everything around that power. McGregor has been out for years, and power only matters if the timing and footwork are still there to deliver it clean.
“What the question for me is the timing, the athleticism, the movement,” Poirier said. “All those questions need to be answered. I don’t know, you know, we haven’t seen him.”
McGregor is scheduled to rematch Holloway in the UFC 329 main event on July 11, 2026. Their first fight came in 2013, when McGregor beat Holloway by unanimous decision. Holloway later became UFC featherweight champion, held the BMF title, and built one of the most active striking records in UFC history.
Poirier still sees a real opening for McGregor if the old counterpunching shows up.
“So I don’t know if his counter punching and his timing is anywhere near what it was, he has a chance to beat Max,” Poirier said.
Poirier also pointed to the damage Holloway has taken late in his career. Holloway’s record is 27-9, and his reputation has always been built on volume, cardio, durability, and pace. Poirier said the recent knockdowns matter when talking about McGregor’s chance to hurt him.
“Look, I love Max, but the career he’s had and the longevity he’s had, he’s touched the canvas in his last three fights more, you know, that’s more than he’s touched in his entire career,” Poirier said. “I just think time’s catching up with him.”
Poirier brought the conversation back to McGregor’s power. Even if the speed, rhythm, and movement are not the same, Poirier believes the left hand is still the thing Holloway has to respect.
“He’s still your man, but he’s taken a lot of shots and Conor can punch, man,” Poirier said. “No matter how long he’s been out, he still has the great equalizer and that’s power.”
The McGregor-Holloway rematch has already pulled in opinions from around the sport, including Matt Brown’s warning about McGregor’s power at 170 pounds. Poirier’s read is close to that lane. McGregor’s layoff creates questions, but his power remains the danger Holloway has to manage.
