Michael Bisping has weighed in on Max Holloway's loss to Conor McGregor at UFC 329, downplaying the defeat as far from a career-defining setback. The former UFC middleweight champion offered a measured take on the result for the featherweight contender.
Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping has offered a measured defence of Max Holloway following the Hawaiian fighter's loss to Conor McGregor at UFC 329, arguing the defeat should not be viewed as a defining blow to Holloway's career.
Bisping, 47, won 30 of his 39 professional bouts during a decorated career that included a UFC middleweight title reign, and he carries the kind of credibility to contextualise a high-profile setback. The Englishman suggested Holloway's standing in the sport remains very much intact despite the result.
Holloway, now 34, holds a 27-9 record and is ranked fourth in the lightweight division as well as ninth in the pound-for-pound standings. The Gracie Technics product out of Hawaii is one of the most prolific strikers in UFC history, averaging 7.2 significant strikes landed per minute at 48 percent accuracy. He has built that reputation primarily at featherweight, and the loss to McGregor, while significant, comes against a fighter of considerable star power.
McGregor, 37, improved to 22-6 with the victory. The Irishman out of SBG Ireland carries a 49 percent striking accuracy and averages 5.32 significant strikes per minute, numbers that reflect the sharp counter-punching style that has defined his career.
Why it matters
- Holloway sits fourth in the lightweight rankings and ninth pound-for-pound, meaning his divisional position remains relevant despite the loss.
- A defeat to McGregor, one of the sport's most recognisable names, carries less stigma than a loss to a ranked contender below him.
- How the UFC books Holloway next will determine whether this result truly disrupts his trajectory toward a lightweight title shot.
Saturday, July 11, 2026
