The main card for UFC 329 during International Fight Week has been announced, featuring Conor McGregor in the headline bout. The analyst notes the card appears weak in star power beyond McGregor, which is concerning given the Irishman's history of cancellations, including the Chandler situation two years ago. If McGregor were to withdraw, the backup main event would likely be Max Holloway versus Paddy Pimblett, which may not carry sufficient drawing power. The author suggests UFC should add insurance to the card, such as Charles Oliveira versus Arman Tsarukyan, potentially even for the BMF belt. The commentary reflects concerns about relying too heavily on McGregor given his recent unreliability.
UFC 329 has been officially slotted into International Fight Week, with Conor McGregor headlining the July 11 card — though questions about the event's overall depth are already surfacing.
Beyond McGregor's presence at the top of the bill, the card has drawn scrutiny for its lack of additional star power. That concern carries extra weight given McGregor's recent history of pulling out of bouts, most notably the long-running situation with Michael Chandler that collapsed two years ago. Should history repeat itself, the promotion would likely turn to a backup main event featuring Max Holloway against Paddy Pimblett — a matchup that, while entertaining on paper, may not carry the commercial weight UFC 329 would need during its marquee International Fight Week slot.
Holloway, ranked fourth in the lightweight division and ninth pound-for-pound, brings one of the most prolific offensive outputs in the sport. The 34-year-old Hawaiian lands 7.2 significant strikes per minute and carries a 27-9 record, making him a legitimate draw in his own right. Pimblett, the 31-year-old Liverpudlian ranked sixth at lightweight with a 23-4 record, lands 5.49 significant strikes per minute and contributes 1.2 submission attempts per fifteen minutes, giving him a credible finishing threat on the feet and ground alike.
One suggested remedy to shore up the card is adding Charles Oliveira against Arman Tsarukyan, with some commentary floating the BMF belt as a possible incentive. Oliveira, 36 and ranked third at lightweight with an 11th-place pound-for-pound standing, is one of the division's most dangerous finishers. He averages 2.6 submission attempts per fifteen minutes and has a 37-11-0 record built over a long and decorated career out of Chute Boxe Diego Lima in Brazil.
Why it matters
- UFC 329 falls during International Fight Week, the promotion's most high-profile annual slot, raising the stakes for card quality
- McGregor's track record of late withdrawals makes contingency planning a genuine operational concern
- A Holloway-Pimblett backup, while competitive, may not move the needle commercially without further reinforcement
- Adding Oliveira to the card would bring a ranked title contender and proven pay-per-view commodity to an event that currently lacks insurance
Saturday, July 11, 2026
