Conor McGregor threw a punch at Max Holloway during their first face-off ahead of their UFC rematch this weekend. The Irishman lashed out at his rival as they locked heads after a press conference, slapping Holloway's hand and throwing a punch before the two squared off.
McGregor's Return to the Octagon
McGregor will return to the UFC on Saturday night to face Holloway in a rematch of their 2013 clash, which McGregor won on points. The Dubliner has not fought since breaking his leg at the end of the first round of his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier five years ago. Since then, he has been on the sidelines, winning just one fight in a decade and generating controversial headlines.
Vow to Destroy Holloway
At the press conference, McGregor said: "I predict destruction. I'm going to destroy Max; I'm going to eliminate Max. The final opponent of mine still within the UFC ranks. All of my other opponents are gone. Max is the last one left, and on Saturday night, he gets eliminated for good." He added: "I can destroy Max inside 10 seconds. I have knockouts inside three seconds on my fighting record. I have Hall of Fame fighters, multiple Hall of Fame UFC fighters defeated and destroyed both together and under a minute. And I can add Max to that. However, don't get it twisted. If we go into these deep waters, Max is going to be in a lot of trouble, badly concussed."
Face-Off Incident
After the press conference, McGregor raced to the centre of the stage for the face-off, throwing a punch at Holloway before the two locked heads. The incident highlighted the tension between the fighters, with McGregor showing a glimmer of the old version that captured featherweight and lightweight titles. He is convinced he can recapture his glory days despite his recent record.
How to Watch UFC 329
UFC 329: McGregor vs Holloway 2 will be broadcast exclusively live on TNT Sports Box Office via HBO Max, EE TV, Virgin Media TV, Prime Video and Sky. For more information, visit tntsports.co.uk/boxoffice.
