Poirier breaks – With UFC 329 set for July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Dustin Poirier has delivered his take on a McGregor-Holloway rematch that carries history, injury context, and betting pressure—while Poirier insists McGregor’s power still changes everything. The ca
Dustin Poirier doesn’t need a highlight reel to remember what Conor McGregor and Max Holloway bring to the cage. He’s been there for the fallout—completing and winning separate trilogies with both rivals during his UFC career.
Now, as McGregor’s comeback fight is scheduled against Holloway for July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Poirier is the man being asked to look straight at the matchup and explain why it might play out like a sequel instead of a rewind.
UFC officials officially announced the bout over the weekend, labeling the clash as the UFC 329 main event: McGregor vs Holloway. The stakes feel personal even before the gloves touch, because the featured fight is a rematch of a 2013 meeting that arrived before either man won a UFC title.
McGregor hasn’t competed in mixed martial arts since back-to-back fights against Poirier in 2021. His last run ended with a brutal broken leg in his most recent appearance. and his UFC record since 2016 includes only one win. Holloway. meanwhile. has been far more active—fighting eight times since McGregor’s last bout—and is listed as a better than five-to-one betting favourite compared to McGregor. who is nearly a four-to-one betting underdog two months ahead of the event.
Still, Poirier isn’t writing McGregor off.
“The thing is. Conor has the power. ” Poirier said when sharing his initial thoughts on the anticipated matchup on Deep Waters. a weekly YouTube show hosted by former UFC stars Din Thomas. Chris Weidman. Jorge Masvidal and Poirier. “Like. no matter the injury. (his punching power is) gonna be there still. the timing. a lot of other things matter but the power is gonna be there.”.
Poirier also pointed out how the original result may shape the mood—but not the mechanics. McGregor could have a mental edge because the event is tied to their earlier rivalry, but Poirier said the first-fight script won’t simply repeat.
“It’ll have influence on the trash talk because Conor got a win over him so he’s going to keep riding that, but it’s a completely different fight. (The first fight) was too long ago.”
That first Holloway-McGregor fight came at 145 pounds, where McGregor overcame a significant knee injury during the bout. McGregor. in his second UFC appearance. tore the ACL in one of his knees early in the fight and turned to wrestling rather than striking. controlling Holloway and taking a three-round unanimous decision.
For Poirier, the path forward for UFC 329 isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s about what’s likely inside the striking exchanges. He suggested the rematch is shaping up as a firefight.
“This is going to be a fire fight,” Poirier said. “Oliveira was able to smother (Holloway), which I was surprised because Max is hard to hold down. Conor’s going to kickbox with him for 25 minutes.”
Holloway is coming into the rematch after a five-round decision loss to Charles Oliveira in March, a fight in which Oliveira used ground control to secure the match.
Poirier also raised the possibility that inactivity and wear-and-tear could swing the contest in different directions. He said rust could be a factor for McGregor due to his inactivity, while wear-and-tear could be an issue for Holloway.
“The thing that I keep thinking about is Max in his last three fights, he’s touched the canvas more times than he’s touched in his whole career,” Poirier said. “Conor can punch and if Max’s chin is finally catching up to his style of fighting he does, Conor could put him down.”
If McGregor’s power is the threat, Holloway’s volume is the tradition. Poirier acknowledged that Holloway is a volume puncher. but he believes the weight class could sharpen the impact of those shots. The UFC 329 headliner is scheduled as a welterweight contest. meaning they’ll be able to weigh as much as 171 pounds the day before the event—rather than fighting as mostly 155-pounders in recent years.
“I think (the rematch) is a little different of a story,” Poirier added. “Max is for sure a volume puncher. but at (155 pounds) when I fought him last. he had power behind his shots and I gotta think at 170 he’s going to have even more power because Max can punch now. man. He’s not just a volume puncher. He can finish fights.”.
Another reason the matchup carries extra electricity: it’s not just any rematch. It’s a storyline stacked with their shared histories.
Poirier vs Holloway history includes three UFC meetings. UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012: Poirier welcomed Holloway to the UFC on short notice and submitted Holloway within one round. UFC 236 on April 13. 2019: Poirier won an interim UFC lightweight title via five-round unanimous decision over Holloway. who accepted the bout on short notice for a second time. UFC 318 on July 19. 2025: Holloway avenged two previous losses to Poirier with a five-round unanimous decision win for the BMF Title at UFC 318 last July in Poirier’s retirement fight in his home state of Louisiana.
Poirier vs McGregor history also spans three key fights. UFC 178 on Sept. 27, 2014: McGregor knocked Poirier out in less than two minutes to improve to 4-0 in the UFC. It was Poirier’s first knockout loss and the fight that resulted in him moving up from 145 to 155 pounds. UFC 257 on Jan. 24. 2021: Poirier stunned combat sports on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi by becoming the first MMA opponent to stop McGregor with strikes. UFC 264 on July 10. 2021: the heated trilogy ended with Poirier earning a second consecutive TKO win over McGregor after McGregor broke his left leg at the end of the opening round.
Before anyone settles into the betting numbers. Masvidal’s comments underline how much belief is still attached to Holloway’s ceiling in Poirier’s orbit. Masvidal said of the matchup. “Max smokes him like a brisket.” He also pointed to Holloway’s form after losing to Charles Oliveira. saying. “Max lost a good fight with Charles but Max is still Max. ” adding. “I still feel he can go win a world title. do some big things.” Masvidal finished with a blunt take on the challenge for McGregor. saying. “I think it’s a bad fight for Conor. confidence or no confidence.”.
Beyond the headliner, UFC 329 is shaping into a busy lineup. Matchups confirmed so far include:
— Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway
— Paddy Pimblett vs. Benoît Saint Denis
— Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista
— Brandon Royval vs. Lone’er Kavanagh
— Gable Steveson vs. Elisha Ellison
— Robert Whittaker vs. Nikita Krylov
— Cody Garbrandt vs. Adrian Yanez
— Tracy Cortez vs. Wang Cong
— Damian Pinas vs. Cesar Almeida
— Luke Riley vs. Kai Kamaka III
— Ode’ Osbourne vs. Cody Durden.
With McGregor returning after time away. Holloway carrying momentum from his recent stretch. and Poirier stressing that power can still arrive even when injuries linger. UFC 329 is being framed as more than a headline. It’s an argument between timing and impact, volume and risk—set to play out at T-Mobile Arena on July 11.
UFC 329 Dustin Poirier Conor McGregor Max Holloway T-Mobile Arena July 11 Deep Waters Paddy Pimblett Benoît Saint Denis Cory Sandhagen Mario Bautista Robert Whittaker Nikita Krylov