Islam Makhachev has acknowledged that Conor McGregor's return to competition is good for the sport as a whole. The UFC lightweight champion also shared his prediction for UFC 329.
Islam Makhachev has spoken out on Conor McGregor's anticipated return to competition, welcoming the Irishman's comeback as a positive development for mixed martial arts, while also offering his prediction for UFC 329 on July 11.
Makhachev, 34, enters this period as the reigning welterweight champion and the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world, carrying an imposing 28-1 record. The Russian southpaw, who trains out of Eagles MMA, has built his dominance on an exceptionally well-rounded game — landing 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and attempting more than one submission per 15 minutes, all while posting a striking accuracy of 58 percent. He has established himself as arguably the most complete fighter in the sport today.
McGregor, known as "The Notorious," holds a 22-6 record and returns at 37 years of age after an extended absence from competition. The Irishman fights out of SBG Ireland and brings one of the most recognizable offensive outputs in the sport's history, having landed 5.32 significant strikes per minute across his career. At five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach — longer than many fighters several inches taller — the southpaw from Dublin has always presented unique physical challenges for opponents.
Why it matters
- Makhachev's public comments on McGregor's return signal the ripple effect a high-profile comeback has across the entire roster, including champions far removed from McGregor's likely division.
- McGregor's return, if completed, would immediately shake up the landscape of whichever weight class he enters.
- Makhachev's UFC 329 prediction adds further intrigue to a card that is already generating significant attention ahead of its July 11 date.
Saturday, July 11, 2026
