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UFC heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall believes fans could witness the return of the classic Conor McGregor when the Irish superstar faces Max Holloway at UFC 329.
McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) is set to square off with Holloway (27-9 MMA, 23-9 UFC) in the welterweight headliner this Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The two previously met in 2013, when McGregor secured a victory despite suffering a knee injury during the contest by relying heavily on his wrestling.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aspinall suggested McGregor may once again mix in grappling after seeing Holloway struggle against Charles Oliveira's ground game at UFC 326.
"From the interviews I've seen lately, Conor looks mentally sharp and completely locked in," Aspinall said. "Whenever he's at his best, he's an incredible fighter. He's already beaten Max once, and although Max is one of the greatest fighters we've seen, his last performance wasn't convincing."
Aspinall pointed to Holloway's recent loss to Oliveira, saying the former featherweight champion appeared uncomfortable dealing with an elite grappler.
"Against Charles Oliveira, Max never really looked settled. It almost felt like he wasn't fully confident at times because he had to deal with such a dangerous grappling threat," Aspinall explained. "With Conor, I expect the fight to stay mostly on the feet because that's where he's at his best. His striking intelligence is exceptional, and he's difficult to hit cleanly. But people forget that in their first meeting, Conor also used his wrestling effectively. I wouldn't be surprised if he went back to that approach."
Despite McGregor returning after a five-year absence from competition, Aspinall believes the former two-division champion still has the tools to produce a spectacular comeback.
"I liked everything about the way he carried himself in recent interviews," Aspinall said. "He looked relaxed, focused and confident. Of course, interviews don't win fights, and facing someone as active as Max is a huge challenge. But power is the last thing to disappear. Conor only needs one clean left hand to change everything."
Aspinall ultimately backed McGregor to finish the fight early.
"If I had to make a prediction, I'd pick Conor by first-round knockout. I think he'll connect with that trademark left hand, and that'll be enough to end the fight."
