Matt Brown is not picking Conor McGregor outright over Max Holloway, but he does not see the UFC 329 rematch as an automatic bad matchup for McGregor either. Brown pointed to the welterweight setting, McGregor’s power, Holloway’s hittable style, and McGregor’s 2013 win.
McGregor, 22-6, and Holloway, 27-9, are scheduled to headline UFC 329 in Las Vegas on July 11. The fight brings McGregor back for the first time since his July 2021 leg injury against Dustin Poirier. Holloway enters as a former UFC featherweight champion and former BMF titleholder.
In a clip shared by MMA Fighting, Brown was asked if the UFC is setting McGregor up for failure against Holloway. Brown did not give a hard prediction, but he explained why McGregor has a route to success.
“Yeah, that’s a good question. I’m not sure, man,” Brown said. “Because I can also, I can see the argument where you think Conor would have a good chance.”
Brown started with the weight class. McGregor and Holloway first fought at featherweight in August 2013, with McGregor winning by unanimous decision in Boston. This rematch is a very different fight on paper because it comes years later and at 170 pounds.
“For one, it’s at 170,” Brown said. “Conor has good power, right? At 170.”
Watch the clip below:
.@iamtheimmortal believes McGregor absolutely has a path to victory against Max Holloway:
"Conor has good power at 170. Max is hittable. … It’s not the worst [matchup]."
(🎥 @DamonMartin) pic.twitter.com/mkDrBj67AX
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) May 26, 2026
Brown Points To Holloway’s Defense And Fight Mileage
Brown also focused on Holloway’s defense. Holloway owns UFC records for significant strikes and total strikes landed, but Brown said he still gives opponents chances to hit him.
“Max is hittable, you know,” Brown said. “I mean, he’s certainly a hittable guy.”
Brown then brought up McGregor’s previous win over Holloway.
“Conor has a win over him in the past,” Brown said.
That 2013 result is not the same as a 2026 rematch. McGregor later became the first simultaneous two-division champion in UFC history after winning featherweight and lightweight gold. Holloway later became featherweight champion, defended the belt, and moved to lightweight after years at 145 pounds.
Brown’s final point was the number of hard rounds Holloway has logged during that run.
“Max has been through the ringer,” Brown said. “He’s got a lot of miles on those tires, man.”
Brown closed by saying the matchup can be defended from McGregor’s side without calling it an easy fight.
“I can see where you can make that argument that it’s not the worst,” Brown said.
McGregor still has to answer the main question around UFC 329: how much remains after nearly five years away from competition. Brown’s case was not a prediction. He said the 170-pound weight, McGregor’s power, the old win, and Holloway’s mileage give McGregor a path.
Related: McGregor recently said the UFC finally “honored” him before the Holloway rematch, while Dana White denied the announcement was timed around Francis Ngannou’s MVP walkout.
