The UFC 329 press conference went down last night (Thu. Jul. 9th 2026) from Las Vegas, Nevada and it was a real heater led by an on-point Conor McGregor. After five years away from mixed martial arts, “The Notorious” still knows how to wield a mic and he put on quite the performance for a rowdy but respectful crowd.
Max Holloway was happy to keep up with McGregor’s smack talk, even though he lost badly to the Irish sports star in their first meeting 13 years ago. Check out some of the best quotes
and back-and-forths between Holloway and McGregor below.
McGregor: This is why I’m back for the love of the game and the love of the fans. It’s great to be back here in Las Vegas, you know, five years out, but I’m fighting since I came out of the womb. I’ll be fighting until the day I go out. So this is another day for McGregor, baby.
McGregor: He’s not in against an Ortega or a or a featherweight. This is a different animal altogether. So all the best with that, Max. It’s not happening.
Holloway: We’re gonna find out Saturday night. I can’t wait. I see you got two belts. I guess he’s fighting for belts from Saturday night, so I can’t wait to take those pretty belts off his hands.
McGregor: You didn’t lay a glove on me last time. You’re not gonna lay a glove on me this time. There’s a different animal coming back. I’ve got a lot to prove here. And who am I proving it to to? To myself. So you’re up against it.
Holloway: I touched your face quite a lot last time. If we talk to you about drops, I drop your ass with a high kick.
McGregor: These belts represent every record in the fight business. I hold them all. So it’s an honor to to hold these belts. And for sure, the OG Champ Champ going for the Triple Crown? Sounds like one hell of a story to me.
McGregor: You know, all I see, all I feel, all I hear is God. And I’m blessed. We’re all blessed here today. And I appreciate every single one of you and all that’s going on. I appreciate the UFC. I appreciate Dana. I appreciate my opponents. All my opponents up here, don’t get it twisted. All angling for a fight with the big boss. Let’s be real. And [Ian Garry] Machado? The Machado fella. I wish him well. I hope we do it. Go for Ireland.
McGregor: Destruction. I’m going to destroy Max. I’m going to eliminate Max. The final opponent of mine, still within the UFC ranks. All of my other opponents are gone. Max is the last one left. And on Saturday night, he gets eliminated for for good.
McGregor: I think his boxing is abysmal. I don’t rate it once. He has one gear, and it’s not impressive. Very rarely have we seen magic inside the octagon from Max Holloway. Little evil Holloway. Saturday night he gets destroyed.
McGregor: I am in my prime now or forever. Bring it on Saturday night, you’re gonna see.
Holloway: I believe him. I believe him. He’s doing all the right things. He found God. He got his beautiful family right here. We’re getting ready for a dangerous Conor McGregor. I can’t wait, guys. No excuses come Saturday night.
McGregor: I find [Max offering me a rematch in December] disrespectful. I find it shows he is here for economic, the economics of it. You must not realize the danger he is in. I forecast Holloway’s retirement on Saturday night, not a trilogy for cash.
Holloway: I hope he knows how to swim. I’m drowning his ass.
McGregor: Not one chance do you stand.
Holloway: Keep telling yourself that, brother.
McGregor: I returned to my gym. I stuck a little bed in the gym and I’ve been living in the gym. Literally, I’ve been living at the place of practice. So in order for me to exit the gym, I had to walk across the mats and put in a session. No travel, no traffic. Just right in the thick of it. But a lot of young hungry lions around me angling for a spot to be in my position. So it’s been a tremendous experience, a tremendous camp, and on we go. Glory to God.
McGregor: I can destroy Max inside ten seconds. I have knockouts inside three seconds on my fighting record. I have Hall of Fame fighters, multiples, Hall of Fame UFC fighters defeated and destroyed, both together in under a minute. And I can add Max to that. However, don’t get it twisted. If we go into these deep waters, Max is gonna be in a lot of trouble, badly concussed.
Holloway: What happened the first time?
McGregor: You wanna know? You were left in a wheelchair.
Holloway: You shot.
McGregor: You left the arena in Boston wheelchair-bound. I wheeled your ass out of the octagon.
McGregor: Very important bout. Excited to be back and to showcase what human grit and desire and dedication can do. Despite the odds, we can overcome anything. Never be a victim of your circumstances. Overcome them. And on Saturday, I’m gonna show the world, you too can do the same.
Holloway: I’m telling you guys, it’s gonna be a long night for Conor McGregor on Saturday night, man. We’re taking the deep deep waters, man.
McGregor: Mac goes all night long, baby.
McGregor: You’re gonna see violence on Saturday night. You’re gonna see a ferocious man. And that’s it. What more can I do to show? I’m not here to prove anything to you. I need to prove nothing to no one. It is to myself that I am proving this to.
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