Megan Olivi says Dublin glimpse shows “old school” Conor McGregor ahead of UFC 329 return

Megan Olivi did not just talk to Conor McGregor about returning, she went to Dublin. The UFC host and longtime reporter traveled to Ireland before UFC 329 to see how McGregor was preparing and, in her assessment, the former two-division champion is showing signs of an “old school” version of himself rather than a cautious, half-measure comeback mindset.

Olivi described the trip as a rare, first-hand look because McGregor’s UFC 329 preparation has been kept tightly guarded. Speaking after her June interview and training visit, she said she expects to see “an old school Conor McGregor” in how he carries himself publicly at the UFC 329 press moment and in the confidence he brings into the fight week environment. She added that she believes he took training “really seriously” for the task ahead.

The fight week storyline centers on whether McGregor can translate that mindset into a real in-cage performance after a lengthy absence. He will step into the octagon for the first time in exactly five years on July 11, when he meets Max Holloway in a five-round welterweight headliner at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Olivi’s perspective matters here because, at this stage of a comeback, small changes in how a fighter approaches camp can show up in timing, pace, and the willingness to engage.

This matchup is also familiar. McGregor and Holloway will fight again after their August 2013 meeting, when McGregor won by unanimous decision. UFC 329’s headliner format also raises the stakes because five rounds place a premium on stamina management, adjustments as the fight evolves, and staying composed after momentum swings rather than relying on a short burst. Holloway’s style history makes that particularly relevant for a returning fighter trying to reestablish rhythm.

McGregor’s road back has had multiple stops and false starts. His last appearance before UFC 329 came in July 2021 at UFC 264, when he was stretchered out of the cage following a leg break in his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier. Since then, questions about if and when he would compete again have persisted, including speculation that never became an official timetable until later. A scheduled return at UFC 303 in July 2024 against Michael Chandler was derailed when McGregor withdrew due to a toe injury, prolonging the wait.

According to the same reporting that frames Olivi’s comments, McGregor’s record heading into UFC 329 is listed at 27-9 in mixed martial arts and 23-9 in the UFC, while Holloway is listed at 22-6 in MMA and 10-4 in UFC competition. The matchup’s weight class designation as welterweight also adds an extra layer for fans to watch, since the question becomes less about branding and more about whether the body conditioning, speed, and striking range can align with the demands of that division on a five-round stage.

What to watch next is less about whether McGregor looks sharp in interviews and more about whether his camp habits show up under pressure. UFC 329 will clarify how well his preparation translates into early-round decision-making, whether he can impose his preferred tempo against Holloway, and how durable he looks once the fight moves beyond the opening exchanges. Olivi’s trip suggests confidence and discipline are present, but the octagon will ultimately decide how “old school” that approach looks once the bell rings.