Conor McGregor out-wrestles Max Holloway at UFC 329

Conor McGregor defeated Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11, 2026, with his grappling work proving to be the deciding factor across the bout. McGregor controlled Holloway on the canvas for long stretches, neutralizing his opponent's striking and securing the win.

McGregor, 37, improved his professional record to 22-6-0 with the victory. The Notorious, representing SBG Ireland, is a southpaw standing five-foot-nine with a notably long 74-inch reach. He averages 0.67 takedowns per 15 minutes, and that ground-control ability was on full display here against a fighter whose career has been built almost entirely around striking output.

Holloway, 34, drops to 27-9-0 and entered the contest ranked fourth in the lightweight division and ninth in the pound-for-pound rankings. Blessed, out of Gracie Technics in the United States, is one of the most prolific strikers in MMA, averaging 7.2 significant strikes landed per minute at 48 percent accuracy. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 69-inch reach, he came in as the more active and accurate volume striker on paper, but McGregor's wrestling denied him the space to operate.

Why it matters

• McGregor's takedown-based game plan suppressed Holloway's elite striking volume, raising questions about how Holloway approaches opponents with credible wrestling going forward.
• The result keeps McGregor relevant at the top of the sport and puts pressure on the lightweight rankings, given Holloway's position at number four in the division.
• A fighter without a listed divisional rank defeating a top-five lightweight and top-ten pound-for-pound name will inevitably force a rankings conversation among selectors.