Morning Report: Daniel Cormier knows Max Holloway ‘will not be satisfied’ with UFC 329 win over Conor McGregor

Daniel Cormier shared his disappointment with UFC 329's main event, where Max Holloway defeated Conor McGregor in circumstances that left both fighter and fans unsatisfied. The rematch between the pair—who first fought 13 years prior, with McGregor winning that encounter—lasted only 69 seconds of Round 1 before a McGregor leg injury forced the referee to stop the bout. Holloway, despite taking the victory to even the series at 1–1, immediately called for a trilogy to settle their rivalry, a plea that received a muted response from the crowd at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Cormier, speaking in a YouTube reaction video, praised Holloway's sportsmanship in recognizing McGregor's injury and signalling the referee to intervene. However, Cormier acknowledged that Holloway—described as one of his close friends—will not feel genuinely satisfied with a win earned under such circumstances. "Max Holloway wants to compete," Cormier said. "Tonight, he did not get that opportunity."

While UFC 329's undercard delivered multiple exciting finishes, including a standout submission by Paddy Pimblett against Benoit Saint Denis, the main event's abrupt conclusion left a sour taste. Cormier compared the disappointment unfavourably even to October's problematic UFC 321 headliner, where Tom Aspinall suffered an accidental eye poke from Ciryl Gane. "At least that fight, we saw them get after it a little bit," Cormier noted. "Tonight, we did not get that with Conor McGregor and Max Holloway."

Ivan Flores, Holloway's striking coach, reflected on the camp's promise and the swift derailment. He described seeing McGregor lose his footing on an early jumping kick, then slip again on a follow-up attempt. Despite Holloway's victory, Flores conveyed real disappointment. "This camp was special," he said. "This camp was different. I haven't seen Max this locked in in a long time."