10 Jul My Thoughts on UFC 329
Article Rundown
- UFC 329 is a loaded card, headlined by Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway.
- Brian believes Holloway’s cardio, pace, and continued improvement give him the edge over Conor.
- Saint Denis, Sandhagen, and Whittaker are Brian’s main picks on the rest of the card.
- Gable Steveson is the biggest unknown, but his wrestling and athleticism make him worth watching.
UFC 329
I’ve been a UFC fan for a long time. The first time I saw it was back in 1995 on VHS, and it was raw, violent, and completely different than anything I had seen before. It was a freak show in some ways, but it also showed what happened when different fighting styles actually came together.
Back then, a lot of people didn’t take karate or taekwondo seriously. Where I grew up, wrestlers and boxers were the guys you respected. But watching early UFC changed that perspective for me because you could see that if someone really knew how to kick, move, create space, and strike with intent, those styles could absolutely work.
I’m not a pro fighter, but I’ve followed the sport for decades, I’ve worked with fighters, and I pay attention to MMA because the demands of the sport are real. So with UFC 329 coming up, here are my thoughts on the card.
Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway
This is obviously the fight everyone is talking about. Conor beat Max 13 years ago, but that was a completely different Conor and a much younger Max.
The old Conor had lightning in a bottle. He bounced in and out, threw kicks, created space, and waited for people to walk into that left hand. The Conor we saw after the Floyd Mayweather fight was different. He became more boxing-heavy, more front-footed, and less diverse. Dustin Poirier exposed that by attacking his lead leg, and then we saw Conor’s leg snap in the next fight.
Max, on the other hand, has kept improving. His cardio, boxing, rhythm, pace, and toughness are still elite. If Max gets emotional and stands in the middle early, Conor can still catch him. But if Max fights smart, moves, kicks the leg, and makes Conor work, I think he takes over.
My pick is Max Holloway. Conor may look good early, but I think Holloway breaks him down and finishes him late.
Paddy Pimblett vs. Benoit Saint Denis
I’m not a Paddy Pimblett fan. I think he’s overrated, I don’t like the act, and I don’t like how sloppy his striking can be. He has a good ground game, and he can punch, but he gets hit too much.
Saint Denis brings pressure, pace, wrestling, and cardio. That is a bad mix for Paddy.
My pick is Saint Denis by decision or late submission.
Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista
This could be the best fight on the card.
Cory Sandhagen is a monster. He has great angles, a huge gas tank, high fight IQ, and he can keep a pace most people cannot handle. Bautista brings pressure and wrestling, so that makes it interesting.
But I trust Sandhagen’s skill, movement, and experience more.
My pick is Sandhagen.
Robert Whittaker vs. Nikita Krylov
Robert Whittaker has fought killers for years. He has great footwork, a high fight IQ, and he knows how to win rounds. Krylov is physical, dangerous, and powerful, but he can also fade.
The question is how Whittaker handles the move up in weight. He may not be the bigger guy, but I still trust his experience and speed.
My pick is Whittaker by decision.
Cody Garbrandt and Gable Steveson
Cody Garbrandt had beautiful boxing at his best, but he has taken a lot of damage. He gets emotional, gets wild, and his chin is not what it used to be. I’d like to see him win, but I’m not picking him.
Gable Steveson is the big unknown. Olympic gold medalist, freak athlete, heavyweight wrestler, and mentored by Jon Jones. The question is whether he can take shots, handle body work, strike well enough, and keep his gas tank when guys get back up after he takes them down.
I’m interested to see how he looks, but I need to see more before making a real prediction.
Final Thoughts
UFC 329 is a loaded card. The main story is Conor vs. Holloway, but there are several fights worth watching.
My picks are Holloway, Saint Denis, Sandhagen, and Whittaker. I’d like to see Gable Steveson do well, and I’d like to see Cody Garbrandt get a win, but I’m not confident in Cody at this point.
I’m not trying to be Nostradamus. I’m just giving my thoughts as someone who has followed the sport for decades and likes watching how these fights play out.
We’ll see how right or wrong I am when the cage door closes.
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