UFC 329 fight card predictions: Expert picks, odds for Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway in Las Vegas
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- Conor McGregor returns to the Octagon on Saturday at UFC 329 in Las Vegas for his first fight in five years, last competing in 2021 when he suffered a broken leg in his trilogy loss to Dustin Poirier, and he faces Max Holloway at welterweight just days before turning 38
- Max Holloway opened as a -225 favorite over McGregor (+185) at DraftKings, and all three CBS Sports experts (Brian Campbell, Brent Brookhouse, Shakiel Mahjouri) picked Holloway, citing his activity, volume striking, and McGregor's cardio concerns after years of inactivity
- Holloway is moving up to welterweight (170 pounds) for the first time, though CBS Sports noted McGregor is dangerous early with knockout power, and Mahjouri predicted a finish within 15 minutes
- Paddy Pimblett meets Benoit Saint Denis in the co-main at lightweight, with Saint Denis installed at -155 and riding a four-fight stoppage streak, while Pimblett is coming off a January interim title loss to Justin Gaethje — Campbell and Mahjouri picked Saint Denis, Brookhouse picked Pimblett
- Cory Sandhagen (-135) faces Mario Bautista (+114) in a bantamweight clash Campbell called one of the most evenly matched fights on the card, picking Sandhagen's ground game and striking variety to hold serve
- McGregor previously defeated Holloway at featherweight in 2013, before either man reached the championship heights that defined their careers
Why it matters: McGregor's five-year layoff, his age (approaching 38), and the lingering effects of his 2021 broken leg make this comeback one of the riskiest of his career, and the unanimous expert pick for Holloway — a fighter moving up a weight class — underscores how little the betting and media landscape trust McGregor's current form heading into UFC 329.
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