An analyst has expressed concerns about the UFC 329 main card during International Fight Week, noting that beyond the Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway bout, the card appears lacking in star power. The commentary references the situation two years ago when McGregor was scheduled to fight Chandler but withdrew, leaving a weak card that had to be salvaged with a hastily arranged Pereira-Prochazka rematch. There is worry that if McGregor were to pull out again, the event would lack sufficient marquee names to carry it. The suggestion is made that UFC should add another significant bout as insurance, such as Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan, potentially even for the BMF belt. The overall sentiment is that while McGregor's return is anticipated, the promotion should not rely solely on him given his recent history.
Questions are being raised about the depth of the UFC 329 main card scheduled for July 11 during International Fight Week, with at least one prominent analyst warning that the event leans too heavily on the Conor McGregor versus Max Holloway headline bout.
The concern centres on what happens if McGregor, whose reliability as an active fighter has come under scrutiny, were to pull out of the card again. The analyst drew a direct comparison to a situation two years ago when McGregor withdrew from a scheduled fight against Michael Chandler, forcing the UFC to piece together a late Pereira-Prochazka rematch to salvage the event. The suggestion put forward is that the promotion should add a significant insurance bout now rather than scramble later, with a fight between Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan floated as one high-profile option — potentially contested for the BMF belt.
Holloway, 34, enters as the number-four ranked lightweight and currently holds a p4p ranking of ninth in the world. The Hawaiian carries a 27-9 record and brings one of the sport's most impressive striking volumes, landing 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy across his career.
Oliveira, 36, is ranked third at lightweight and eleventh pound-for-pound with a 37-11 record. The Brazilian remains one of the division's most well-rounded threats, averaging 2.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside 2.22 takedowns in the same span.
Tsarukyan, 29, sits at the top of the lightweight rankings with a 23-3 record. The Russian-born American Top Team product is a legitimate title contender, blending high-volume striking at 3.85 significant strikes per minute with an elite wrestling base that produces 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- McGregor's withdrawal history makes UFC 329 a genuine contingency planning issue for the promotion
- Oliveira versus Tsarukyan would add a ranked-one versus ranked-three lightweight clash with title implications
- The lightweight division's top names are all available, giving the UFC legitimate options to bolster the card without manufacturing a matchup
Saturday, July 11, 2026
