Max Holloway has finalized his shift up to welterweight as he gets set to face Conor McGregor once again, with the pair set to meet in a rematch at UFC 329 on Saturday. Having spent the bulk of his 36-fight career competing at featherweight, Holloway will step into the welterweight division for the first time when the two collide at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The 34-year-old's most recent outings actually came at lightweight, where he claimed the BMF title with a win over Dustin Poirier before losing it to Charles Oliveira back in March. McGregor, meanwhile, returns to action for the first time since suffering a broken leg in his 2021 loss to Poirier.
In the years since, the Irishman has faced a string of off-cage controversies, ranging from legal disputes to missed drug testing, prompting some critics to question whether he still merits top billing in the sport.
At the weigh-in, a packed arena responded to Holloway's arrival with a mixture of cheers and jeers as he tipped the scales at 170 pounds, with McGregor coming in half a pound heavier. Tensions had already flared a day earlier at the pre-fight news conference, where McGregor snatched Holloway's glasses off his face before the pair squared up.
This time around, however, the face-off remained free of physical contact, with both men instead locking into a tense, silent stare down. Before exiting the stage, Holloway offered a final warning to his opponent, declaring himself too ferocious and too relentless, and promising to see him the following night.
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