Conor McGregor's UFC 329 return will be 'one for the history books,' says Paddy Pimblett as he makes fight prediction

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Paddy Pimblett believes that Conor McGregor's highly-anticipated return to the UFC will be "one for the history books" when he steps back into the ring for his rematch against Max Holloway, 13 years after their first fight.

‘I see Conor knocking him out’ - Pimblett backs McGregor to upset Holloway at UFC 329

Video credit: TNT Sports

Pimblett and McGregor will co-headline UFC 329 on July 12, with the Irishman participating in his first fight in five years. He has teased a comeback over recent years but those attempts have fallen through at various stages.

However it was announced last month that McGregor will step back into the octagon to take on Max Holloway at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, live on TNT Sports Box Office and HBO Max.

And for Pimblett - who will fight Frenchman Benoit Saint-Denis at the same event - the return will be "special."

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"It's going to be one to remember. Hopefully one for the history books," the 31-year-old told TNT Sports.

McGregor last fought in July 2021 when he sustained a leg injury in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier. Before stepping away from the UFC, McGregor had become one of the biggest fighters in the organisation's history, known for his explosive fights and larger-than-life personality.

He became the first fighter in UFC history to hold championships in two divisions simultaneously after knocking out Jose Aldo in 13 seconds at UFC 194 to take the featherweight title before adding the lightweight belt less than a year later with a second-round stoppage of Eddie Alvarez.

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McGregor's most memorable moment came at UFC 229, when he fought bitter rival Khabib Nurmagomedov after years of build-up, losing eventually to the Russian.

He did return with a 40-second victory over Donald Cerrone but back-to-back losses to Poirier were his last action in the UFC.

Pimblett remembers watching McGregor's fight with Alvarez, describing McGregor as looking "unstoppable."

And he believes the way in which his last UFC fight ended was a big motivation for McGregor - who Pimblett calls a "nutter" - to eventually make a comeback.

"I always thought he was going to come back. I don't think he'd want to end his career on the loss against Poirier," he explained.

"The way he broke his leg, I don’t think he wants to end his career on that. I wouldn't want to finish my career on that."

McGregor against Holloway will be a rematch, 13 years after their first bout, when the Irishman won via unanimous decision in Boston.

That fight was at featherweight but their second bout will be a welterweight match-up, two weight classes up.

Pimblett believes that could favour McGregor initially but could offer openings for Holloway if the fight enters its later rounds.

"Personally, because it's at welterweight, I can see Conor knocking him out," Pimblett said. "Everyone's counting Conor out and saying Max is going to win.

"If it goes to the later round, yeah Max definitely will start eating him up on the feet because he's got that cardio and the volume.

"But the fact that it's at welterweight favours Conor because Charles [Oliveria] made Max look small at lightweight so imagine how big Conor's going to look at welterweight."

Holloway last fought Charles Oliveria in March, losing via unanimous decision.

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