Jose Aldo shares why he predicts Max Holloway will beat Conor McGregor at UFC 329

Jose Aldo, a legendary featherweight who has fought both Conor McGregor and Max Holloway, offered his insight into the UFC 329 headliner slated for July 11 in Las Vegas. McGregor returns after a five-year absence stemming from a leg break at UFC 264, seeking to notch a second victory over Holloway—their first meeting occurred 13 years prior.

Aldo views the matchup as highly competitive but favors Holloway, despite McGregor being a betting underdog. The Brazilian Hall of Famer told Covers.com that McGregor may actually have a better chance against Holloway today than he did against Khabib Nurmagomedov in his title loss. However, Aldo emphasized that Holloway's regular activity and consistent competition are the decisive factors. "He's fighting regularly, coming off strong performances and staying in competition mode," Aldo explained, contrasting that with McGregor's status as an unknown after such a long layoff. Conditioning, timing, and confidence remain unverified for the returning superstar.

Aldo's assessment carries weight given his extensive history with both men—he was knocked out by McGregor in just 13 seconds at their 2015 title fight, and then suffered back-to-back third-round losses to Holloway in 2017. Yet Aldo cautioned against dismissing McGregor's power, acknowledging that "Conor can absolutely go in there and knock [Max] out."