Commentary suggests the UFC 329 main card appears less star-studded than typical major events, with Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway as the primary draw. The post references concerns about relying heavily on McGregor given his history of fight cancellations, citing the situation with Michael Chandler two years ago. If McGregor were to withdraw, the event could suffer significantly as it lacks other high-profile matchups to carry it. The suggestion is made that UFC should add another major fight as insurance, potentially Charles Oliveira vs Arman Tsarukyan, possibly even for the BMF belt. The analysis reflects skepticism about whether the current card structure is sufficient for International Fight Week.
Commentary published ahead of UFC 329 is raising questions about the depth of the July 11 main card, with analysts arguing the event leans too heavily on Conor McGregor versus Max Holloway as its sole marquee attraction during International Fight Week.
Max Holloway, 34, enters the headliner ranked fourth in the lightweight division and ninth pound-for-pound. The Hawaiian carries a 27-9 record and is one of the sport's most prolific volume strikers, averaging 7.2 significant strikes landed per minute at 48 percent accuracy. Fighting out of Gracie Technics, Holloway stands five-foot-eleven with a 69-inch reach.
The criticism centers in part on McGregor's reliability, with commentary pointing specifically to the prolonged and ultimately canceled matchup with Michael Chandler as a cautionary example. Chandler, now 40 and holding a 23-11 record, spent an extended period preparing for a fight that never materialized — a situation observers say could repeat itself and leave UFC 329 without its central draw.
One proposed solution circulating in the commentary is adding Charles Oliveira versus Arman Tsarukyan to the card, potentially for the BMF title, as a safeguard against a McGregor withdrawal. Oliveira, 36, is ranked third at lightweight and eleventh pound-for-pound with a 37-11 record. The Brazilian is a submission specialist of the highest order, averaging 2.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside 2.22 takedowns, and lands 3.35 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 54 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- McGregor's history of late withdrawals makes single-headliner reliance a structural risk for a premium event
- Oliveira versus Tsarukyan would add a ranked lightweight bout with genuine title implications to strengthen the card
- A BMF designation could elevate the secondary bout's profile without requiring a vacant-title situation
- International Fight Week carries heightened commercial expectations that a thin card may struggle to meet
Saturday, July 11, 2026
