Industry insiders project Conor McGregor will earn a minimum of $15 million plus a percentage of Paramount revenue for his UFC 329 appearance. Several UFC fighters have offered their predictions for the McGregor vs. Holloway main event: Dricus Du Plessis sided with McGregor, while Jorge Masvidal backed Holloway and predicted a one-sided performance. Belal Muhammad noted uncertainty about McGregor's current conditioning, warning he could be dangerous for the first two to three minutes despite historically struggling with cardio.
Industry insiders project Conor McGregor will earn a minimum of $15 million plus a percentage of Paramount revenue for his appearance at UFC 329, scheduled for July 11, with several notable UFC fighters already weighing in on the main event matchup against Max Holloway.
Holloway enters the fight ranked fourth in the lightweight division and ninth in the pound-for-pound standings, carrying a 27-9 record at 34 years old. The Hawaiian is one of the most prolific volume strikers in the sport, landing 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy — numbers that rank among the highest in the division.
Middleweight contender Dricus Du Plessis, ranked second at 185 pounds and seventh pound-for-pound at 32, sided with McGregor in his prediction. The South African operates out of a switch stance, standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, and lands 5.18 significant strikes per minute while also threatening with 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Jorge Masvidal, the 41-year-old veteran from American Top Team carrying a 35-17 record, took the opposite view, backing Holloway and predicting a one-sided performance. Belal Muhammad offered a more measured assessment, expressing uncertainty about McGregor's current conditioning while cautioning that McGregor could still be dangerous in the opening two to three minutes, citing his historically documented cardio limitations as a longer-term concern.
Why it matters
- Holloway's volume striking and 27-fight résumé make him a credible threat regardless of the opponent's star power
- McGregor's conditioning and ring rust after an extended absence remain the central question heading into fight week
- Du Plessis and Masvidal representing opposing camps among peers signals genuine division among fighters over how to assess McGregor's current level
- A Paramount revenue share attached to McGregor's deal underscores the broader media rights stakes surrounding UFC 329
Saturday, July 11, 2026
