Ilia Topuria says the results of both Conor McGregor and Max Holloway in their most recent fights make it genuinely impossible for him to predict a winner in their rumored UFC 329 matchup.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Topuria cited Holloway's lopsided unanimous-decision loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 326 as a result that caught him completely off guard, undermining his ability to break down what Holloway brings to the table against McGregor.
I thought that Max was going to beat Charles and he lost by complete domination. So I don't know," Topuria said.
He also pointed to McGregor's surprise submission loss to Nate Diaz at UFC 196 as evidence that the Irishman's performances are simply too unpredictable to analyze with any confidence.
With Conor, you never know. Sometimes he goes in, he makes it look easy. Sometimes he lost to Nate Diaz. When you lose to Nate Diaz, it's very difficult to make predictions about someone like him.
Topuria knocked out Holloway in 2024 during his featherweight title defense before both fighters moved up to lightweight. His inability to call the McGregor and Holloway fight reflects how much the recent Oliveira result shifted his understanding of where Holloway stands.
McGregor's return to the Octagon at UFC 329 on July 11 would be his first fight since his broken leg against Dustin Poirier in 2021. Topuria, meanwhile, prepares to defend the undisputed lightweight title against Justin Gaethje at the UFC White House event on June 14.
