UFC Hall of Famer points out ‘insurmountable’ obstacle Conor McGregor faces against Max Holloway

A UFC Hall of Famer believes Conor McGregor faces a nearly impossible scenario in his highly anticipated return to the Octagon.

Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor will return to the Octagon after a five-year absence this weekend at UFC 329 against Max Holloway. It’ll mark McGregor’s first fight since injuring his leg against Dustin Poirier in their UFC 264 trilogy bout.

McGregor was supposed to return to the cage in 2024 at UFC 303 against Michael Chandler before injuring his toe just weeks before the event. The injury further postponed McGregor’s fighting career as he continues to earn his first victory since January 2020.

During his meteoric rise, McGregor’s cardio was questioned, particularly against fighters like Nate Diaz and Khabib Nurmagomedov. As McGregor prepares to face Holloway, who has one of the best gas tanks in UFC history, this question continues to linger.

After several health setbacks, a UFC Hall of Famer believes the longer the fight goes on Saturday night, the less likely McGregor is to walk out with a victory.

Chael Sonnen: Conor McGregor’s injury history makes a five-round war unlikely

In a recent appearance on CBS Sports HQ Spotlight, UFC Hall of Famer Chael Sonnen pointed to one of the biggest obstacles McGregor faces at UFC 329.

“I’m inspired right now by Conor McGregor,” Sonnen said of McGregor.

“And I don’t think there are very many famous elitist millionaires that could inspire me, but he’s tackling something big here. First off, that’s the worst injury I’ve ever seen. I’ve seen three other guys have it, but I’ve never seen an injury worse than this. He’s returning to a weight class outside of his prime, which historically has never worked out successfully – even in the boxing world.

“And ultimately he signed up to do five rounds, which in the best of days, when he could train and he had no injuries and he can push through and do whatever he wanted, was hard for him to do. So it’s kind of insurmountable, and that’s before we start talking about where he’s training,” Sonnen continued on McGregor. “I’m confident he will make the walk, but there are parts of me that are inspired by a guy willing to do that.” (h/t MMA Junkie)

McGregor enters UFC 329 as a modest underdog against Holloway, especially after his long absence from competition. According to Sonnen, McGregor will have to blitz Holloway early to secure the upset.

What is your prediction for Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2? Let us know in the comments!