The King of the Octagon, is it a spectacular comeback or a gamble on the edge? > News

What surprised fight fans as much as the news of McGregor's return was the change in the environment surrounding him. As a major sports medicine doctor has recently been implicated in a banned substance scandal, McGregor's past treatment history is being reexamined. This has become a factor in increasing doubts about McGregor's overall recovery process, and sharp criticism is being raised as to whether his physical recovery was entirely his own efforts or whether external factors were involved. This controversy is further intensifying the pressure that his performance in the octagon must be proven as pure skill. Fans are placing strict standards on whether he can show his skills as a true fighter, rather than simply relying on his flashy talk and star power.

The main event of ‘UFC 329’ has great historical significance in that it is the rematch between McGregor and Max Holloway after 12 years. McGregor took the lead by winning a unanimous decision during their first fight in 2013, but over the next 10 years, Holloway continued to grow by leaps and bounds, reigning as the absolute powerhouse of the featherweight division. On the other hand, McGregor suffered a decline after his match with Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018, and suffered a fatal injury of a leg fracture in 2021, which was considered to be the end of his career as a player. For Holloway, this is the best opportunity to repay his past debts and prove that he is still alive, and for McGregor, it will be an important turning point where he can ignite the final spark of his career.

The five years McGregor spent outside the ring were a fatal hiatus for a fighter. He has accumulated enormous wealth and fame in areas that are far from the essence of a fighter, such as outside activities such as appearing in Hollywood movies and liquor business. However, the Octagon is a place where there is no mercy, and is a ruthless stage where only sensibilities sharpened through training and real-life combat are accepted. The key variables in this match will be his striking timing and ability to control distance, which may have been dulled during the long hiatus, and how well he has caught up with the upwardly standardized technical trend of modern martial arts. Experts are divided on whether the tactics of the past will work against the current Holloway, which suggests that this match will be a real-life battle rather than just a throwback.

The outcome of this event will have a huge impact not only on McGregor's future moves but also on the entire UFC landscape. If McGregor wins by a landslide, he will have the justification to challenge for the title once again, which will have a huge impact on the UFC's box office revenue. However, if he were to be defeated by Holloway, it would mean the complete end of the McGregor era and would be a sad note announcing the departure of the legendary fighter. Generational change is an inevitable fate in the sports world, and McGregor now has the heavy task of proving his worth in the face of that fate. The bell that will ring at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will be a prelude to a new beginning for some and an eternal farewell to others.