Conor McGregor used 'distance' trick during Max Holloway face-off ahead of UFC 329 bout
Conor McGregor used a genius trick in his intense face-off with Max Holloway ahead of their clash at UFC 329.
McGregor returns to the Octagon on Saturday night for the first time since July 2021 when he suffered a leg break in a loss to Dustin Poirier.
He rematches former featherweight and BMF champion Holloway, who he beat back in 2013.
Having failed to win inside the Octagon since his swift victory over Donald Cerrone in 2020, the former two-weight UFC champion appears locked in and focused after admitting to succumbing to fame and falling off.
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On Thursday night, the two went head-to-head in the mandatory face-off after the press conference in Las Vegas.
The tension was electric as McGregor and Holloway got close to one another, with 'The Notorious' smashing the 34-year-old's Oakley Meta glasses off his head.
He also slapped away Holloway's handshake offer as UFC president Dana White and security got in between them.
Wait a second. I just realized what he’s doing. 😭😭 I feel bad for Max now this was crucial pic.twitter.com/LjuZMk8PYk
— Ernesttheefreshest 🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪 (@Erntastedfresh) July 10, 2026
But fans have also noticed that McGregor had a deliberate ploy to try and give himself an advantage come fight night at the T-Mobile Arena.
The Irishman came at the Hawaii native with his fists raised but many spotted that he also crouched down in what was perceived as an attempt to measure distance in the event he wishes to call upon his wrestling skills.
Although he enjoys trading leather, McGregor used his wrestling prowess in the first fight in 2013, winning via unanimous decision.
Reacting to the trick, one fan on social media wrote: "He’s gonna use the wrestling at some point, testing the level change reaction time."
A second said: "Bro just exposed the whole gameplan. Conor measuring the exact distance for that Irish whip takedown. Max about to get wrestling clinic’d. Sorry Blessed, the king is back."
A third wrote: "Had max completely playing his game."
Conor McGregor makes vow to Max Holloway for UFC 329 fight
McGregor has spoken highly of Holloway's work inside the Octagon but that didn't stop him from going on the attack.
After coming onto the stage with two belts to sign his double champion status, McGregor spoke about the fighters he has "destroyed" and promised to "eliminate" Holloway on Saturday.
McGregor claimed: "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.
"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."
Topics: Conor McGregor, UFC, Fan Reactions
Josh Lawless