Conor McGregor will return as a Welterweight for his UFC 329 headliner versus Max Holloway, which will take place this weekend (Sat., July 11, 2026) inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Much of McGregor’s best work — including his first win over the “Blessed” Hawaiian — came two weight classes lower at 145-pounds. The Irishman made his UFC debut at Featherweight all the way back in 2013 and rattled off seven-straight wins to capture undisputed gold. During that first run, McGregor defeated future champion
Holloway, future Hall of Famer Dustin Poirier, and perennial contender Chad Mendes before stopping an all-time great Jose Aldo in mere seconds.
It’s one of the very best win streaks in UFC history, and it catapulted McGregor to stardom and (eventually) a second UFC title. Despite the abbreviated nature of his Featherweight run, McGregor believes his performances and displayed skills are enough to rank him above the likes of Holloway, Aldo, and Alexander Volkanovski in the 145-pound GOAT discussion.
“The greatest Featherweights of all time … I’ve beaten these men and hadn’t been in the list,” McGregor told ESPN MMA. “How have I beaten these men easily and yet be kept from the list?”
When asked about the relative lack of performances, McGregor admitted, “That’s a fair shout. I understand the [reasons] why. But you cannot get caught in all of this! What is the skill? Who is the best? Who is the greatest? Who was the best? It is me. The results show this. It’s not like the fights weren’t there, they were elsewhere. There were divisional changes. Originally, it was not me, there were fighters pulling out or things of that nature. So, I understand it but don’t agree with it. I’m the greatest featherweight since Bruce Lee, and Saturday night I will show it!”
At this point, it’s hard to argue anybody other than Aldo or Volkanovski for Featherweight GOAT status. Folks who were around for Aldo’s WEC dominance tend to remember his 10-year undefeated streak and youngest-ever champion status well, while Volkanovski has done a remarkable job of building his own legacy over the years. Trouncing Holloway at the peak of his game counts for quite a bit more than beating “Blessed” at 21, and his second championship reign has bolstered his GOAT status as well. McGregor might have had the highest peak of the lot, but longevity matters in these kinds of discussions, particularly since the Irish star never defended his belt.
Regardless, 145-pound legacy will have little to do with UFC 329’s main event. Since leaving Featherweight, McGregor holds a less impressive UFC record of 3-4, so he’ll be aiming to improve to .500 on Saturday.
