Conor McGregor isn’t backing away from championship ambitions as he prepares for his long-awaited return to the Octagon. Less than two weeks before facing Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 329, the former two-division champion made it clear he isn’t impressed by newly crowned UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje and believes another title run remains well within reach.
Gaethje shocked the MMA world when he handed Ilia Topuria his first professional loss to capture the undisputed UFC lightweight championship at UFC Freedom 250.
While many praised Gaethje’s resilience and championship performance, McGregor wasn’t among them. Speaking during an appearance on UFC on Paramount+, McGregor pointed to Gaethje’s devastating knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300 as evidence that the champion remains inconsistent.
“For sure (I can make a run at the title),” McGregor said. “I’m a 170-pound fighter now. I’ve already held the 155-pound unified UFC world title. I’m open for business.”
He then offered a blunt assessment of Gaethje. “Max has flatlined Justin. He knocked him out face down, out cold. Justin’s OK. When he’s on, Justin’s OK. When he’s bad, he’s atrocious. He’s woeful. He slaps his punches a lot. But he’s very, very durable, and he’s unorthodox in his style.”
Focused on Holloway First
Before entertaining another championship opportunity, McGregor must first clear a major hurdle. The Irish superstar returns to competition on July 11 against former featherweight champion and current BMF titleholder Max Holloway in the UFC 329 main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The matchup serves as a rematch of their first meeting in 2013, when McGregor earned a unanimous decision victory despite suffering a torn ACL during the fight. Now returning after nearly five years away from competition, McGregor says activity not a specific opponent is his biggest priority.
“I Want All the Smoke”
While he acknowledged several potential opponents await him, McGregor insisted his focus is on fighting as often as possible after such a lengthy layoff. “There’s a few names for sure,” McGregor said. “I have just more so activity. I wish to just compete.”
“I want the smoke. I want all the smoke.” Despite his absence from the sport, McGregor remains confident that the current generation of contenders hasn’t surpassed him.
“I don’t rate them. Not on my level, and rather than saying it and getting into more detail on it, I would rather just show it.” “That I will do.”
A Pivotal Return
McGregor’s fight against Holloway could determine the direction of his final run in the UFC. A victory would immediately place the former lightweight champion back among the promotion’s biggest stars and potentially within striking distance of another championship opportunity.
With Justin Gaethje now holding the lightweight title and McGregor openly questioning the champion’s credentials, the groundwork could already be forming for another blockbuster showdown if “The Notorious” successfully returns to the win column on July 11.
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Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
