We are just days away from the long-awaited, highly anticipated return of the UFC’s biggest star ever. UFC 329 — this year’s UFC card during its annual International Fight Week — goes down on Saturday, July 11, from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada! Get the latest betting odds and best bets from MMANews!
In the main event, former featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor steps into the Octagon for the first time in five years to take on former featherweight and BMF champion Max Holloway.
This will be a rematch of the pair’s first encounter from the very first Fox Sports 1 UFC card in August 2013, which McGregor won via unanimous decision.
This is McGregor’s first fight since losing to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264, six months after getting knocked out by him. McGregor has only fought four times after becoming the UFC’s first champ-champ in November 2016, with his sole win in that span coming against Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at UFC 246.
McGregor was scheduled to return at UFC 303 against Michael Chandler a couple of years ago, but he withdrew from the bout due to a toe injury.
This will be Holloway’s first fight at welterweight, as well as his first fight since losing the BMF title to Charles Oliveira at UFC 326 earlier this year. Holloway won 13 consecutive fights after losing to McGregor in 2013, picking up the featherweight title during that time.
The co-main event will be a key lightweight matchup between Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint-Denis.
This is Pimblett’s first fight since coming up short in an interim lightweight title fight with Justin Gaethje at UFC 324. It was his first loss in nine fights and his first loss in the Octagon since his September 2021 UFC debut.
BSD has won four straight, all via finish. He finished Dan Hooker at UFC 325 earlier this year.
The other UFC 329 main card bouts include Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista, Brandon Royval vs. Lone’er Kavanagh, and King Green vs. Terrance McKinney.
UFC 329 Betting Odds
Here are the latest betting odds for UFC 329, as of 3 am ET on July 9, courtesy of DraftKings:
Early Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 5 PM ET)
- Flyweight: Alessandro Costa (-245) vs. Cody Durden (+200)
- Middleweight: Ryan Gandra (-130) vs. Zachary Reese (+110)
- Bantamweight: Farid Basharat (-600) vs. John Garza (+440)
- Middleweight: Damian Pinas (-238) vs. Cesar Almeida (+195)
- Women’s Flyweight: Tracy Cortez (-110) vs. Wang Cong (-110)
Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 7 PM ET)
- Featherweight: Luke Riley (-265) vs. Kai Kamaka III (+215)
- Bantamweight: Cody Garbrandt (+330) vs. Adrian Yanez (-425)
- Heavyweight: Gable Steveson (-2800) vs. Elisha Ellison (+1300)
- Light Heavyweight: Robert Whittaker (-135) vs. Nikita Krylov (+114)
Main Card (Paramount+, 9 PM ET)
- Lightweight: King Green (+114) vs. Terrance McKinney (-135)
- Flyweight: Brandon Royval (+180) vs. Lone’er Kavanagh (-218)
- Bantamweight: Cory Sandhagen (-135) vs. Mario Bautista (+114)
- Lightweight: Benoit Saint Denis (-148) vs. Paddy Pimblett (+124)
- Welterweight: Conor McGregor (+185) vs. Max Holloway (-225)
UFC 329 Predictions & Best Bets
Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway: It’s been five long years, but we finally get to see the man known as “The Notorious” return. He seems to be in good fight shape and locked in — but it’s still been five years away from actual competition. And that can be a lifetime in this sport. Does he still have the same skills as he did at the start of the decade? How will his strikes look compared to those of Holloway’s from that time — let alone how much Holloway has evolved since their inaugural 2013 meeting? “Blessed” has done a lot more for his own legacy and the sport of MMA since McGregor started to slow things down back in 2017.
Now, the concern with Holloway is the additional weight. We’ve only seen Holloway a handful of times at lightweight, and he didn’t look great the first time it happened. Now, he’s jumping up another 15 pounds to fight in a weight class he never has before — but McGregor has a few times. It shouldn’t take away from Holloway’s great chin, but will his strikes still be there? And will the extra size help McGregor find the vintage power he needs?
For McGregor to win, he needs to use his strikes, bring the power right away, and put away Holloway in the first or early second-round manner that vintage McGregor was known for. But if he can’t turn back the clock, if Holloway wobbles him early, if Holloway outlasts the first 1.5 rounds…then it’s trouble for him. The longer the fight goes, the better Holloway’s chances. He’s got no ring rust, he’s got the durability and gas tank, and he’s got way more pressure and way more on the line in this one than the Irish star (who most agree is just trying to fight out his contract). (Prediction: Holloway) (Best Bet: Under 2.5 rounds [-120])
Benoit Saint Denis vs. Paddy Pimblett: Benoit Saint Denis looks like a real killer at 155, and he has been since his first UFC win in 2022. His only losses in that span have been to Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano, and he’s finished all four of his most recent opponents — which includes Dan Hooker, Beneil Dariush, and Mauricio Ruffy. Paddy Pimblett surged up well in the UFC’s lightweight ranks since his promotional debut in 2021, and this will be a test to see how he can rebound from the loss to Gaethje.
BSD will look to set a strong pace on Pimblett, looking to land leg kicks and work combinations almost from the get-go, and try to give Pimblett little time to breathe. Pimblett will look to use his counterstriking, grappling, and jiu-jitsu to try and disrupt BSD’s momentum and find a way to control him. BSD, however, is still dangerous on the mat, and that can be a problem for someone who still needs to work on things. Pimblett’s a great fighter, just not yet ready for the top. BSD, however, is someone who can clinch prime title contender status with this one.
A note, however: If Pimblett finishes BSD, then no one can deny him a title eliminator next fight. (Prediction: Saint Denis) (Best Bet: Saint Denis ML [-148])
Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista: Cory Sandhagen is one of the toughest, smartest, and most durable fighters at bantamweight. He gets solid victories; however, he struggles when it comes to facing the top of the top in the weight class. Mario Bautista, meanwhile, has been making his way up through the ranks, emphasized by his solid knockout of Vinicius Oliveira earlier this year. These two have met before back in 2019, with Sandhagen scoring a first-round submission win — but these two are not the same fighters from back then.
Sandhagen can struggle when it comes to takedowns at times, and Bautista can find them. Sandhagen, however, can fare well on the ground against someone like Bautista. And on the feet, if Sandhagen can bring the pressure and take control, this could end up in his favor. (Prediction: Sandhagen) (Best Bet: Sandhagen via decision [-165])
Brandon Royval vs. Lone’er Kavanagh: Brandon Royval is a fun flyweight to watch, but he’s stuck in the “bridesmaid, never the bride” territory. He has the win over Taira, but he’s now lost to current champ Joshua Van and likely future title challenger Manel Kape. And the UFC is hoping for big things from the 10-1 Lone’er Kavanagh, who rebounded from his loss to Charles Johnson with a huge victory on short notice over former champion Brandon Moreno.
This is going to be a competitive battle, but it’s a tough one to make a pick in. Kavanagh has all the momentum, but the loss to Johnson shows us inexperience is there, and perhaps Royval can work to tire him out. Royval’s still got some solid hands to force a solid striking battle between the pair. Either way, it’ll be an entertaining battle, but one where we might not see a finish from either man. (Prediction: Kavanagh) (Best Bet: Fight ends via decision [-150])
King Green vs. Terrance McKinney: This is a solid fight to kick things off on the main card. The 39-year-old King Green is a solid veteran who has strung together three straight wins. He’s shown he can still hang with the talent at lightweight. Terrance McKinney doesn’t have consistency with his fight results; however, he’s still one of the more entertaining fighters to watch.
This is another fight that’s a little too difficult to predict. McKinney is the master of blitzing his opponents early for a first-round finish. Can Green handle that? Can McKinney handle Green’s power? Can Green catch McKinney with a solid shot on the button? Can McKinney win if this fight goes past round one? Too many questions there to answer; just hope for an awesome main card pace-setting bout. (Prediction: McKinney) (Best Bet: McKinney to win by any knockout, submission, or DQ [-140])
Robert Whittaker vs. Nikita Krylov: Over a decade ago, Robert Whittaker jumped up from welterweight to middleweight. Safe to say, it was a good transition. A jump up another 20 pounds in his mid-30s might not be so easy, however.
Whittaker will definitely have a movement and speed advantage at 205, but can he withstand 205-pound power? If Krylov is on his A-game, it could be problematic for Whittaker. Having said that, the only people to have ever finished Whittaker at 185 have gone on to become world champions. And if Krylov doesn’t come in 100% game on, it could be a strong divisional debut for “The Reaper.” (Prediction: Whittaker) (Best Bet: Fight goes the distance [+120])
Gable Steveson vs. Elisha Ellison: Ellison is 5-2 with just one UFC bout to his name — getting finished in the first round against Brando Pericic. Gable Steveson is young in his MMA career, but his accolades scream success. And this is the kind of matchup the UFC wants for someone with Steveson’s wrestling and regional MMA credentials — especially when they’re trying to bring some needed life into a boring heavyweight division. (Prediction: Steveson) (Best Bet: Steveson to win via KO/TKO/DQ in Round 1 [-225])
Cody Garbrandt vs. Adrian Yanez: After a bit of a resurgence of sorts in 2023, it’s been another tough go for Cody Garbrandt. He’s lost to Deiveson Figueiredo and Raoni Barcelos, and while he defeated Xiao Long, he didn’t look great (more than just the vomit-inducing groin shot he took). Adrian Yanez is a similar story — once a rising prospect, he’s struggled to be consistent. In fact, he’s only won one of his last five fights (though many feel he should have won over Ricky Simon, instead of a draw).
Even with his skid, Yanez should still be the favorite here. Garbrandt has shown he’s still got his speed and power in his hands, but he’s taken too much damage over the years. Yanez might be able to match him at this point in trading, and that might enable Yanez to find the finish. (Prediction: Yanez) (Best Bet: Yanez via KO/TKO/DQ [-110])
Luke Riley vs. Kai Kamaka III: The undefeated Luke Riley has fared well so far, as the Cage Warriors veteran is now 2-0 in the UFC after wins over Bogdan Grad and Michael Aswell Jr. Now he gets Kai Kamaka III in what should be his toughest test yet — and fans should prepare for quite a brawl.
Kamaka has some great striking and has a great chin. Neither is particularly great with the ground game, and neither probably even tries to make something happen there. Expect fists to fly until the final horn, with what could be another feather in the young Riley’s cap. (Prediction: Riley) (Best Bet: Riley via decision [+110])
Tracy Cortez vs. Wang Cong: Wang Cong has picked up four wins in the UFC thus far, but she’s coming into this bout off a weight miss. She also hasn’t fought the competition like that of Cortez. Cortez may have lost two of her last three, but those were to Rose Namajunas and Erin Blanchfield.
This fight goes one of two ways — Cong’s striking and volume is too much for Cortez, or Cong is unable to stop Cortez’s takedowns and top control. This fight goes the distance in either circumstance (most of the wins for both women have been via decision), but let’s lean to Cortez’s experience and grappling helping her get the W. (Prediction: Cortez) (Best Bet: Cortez via decision [+120])
Damian Pinas vs. Cesar Almeida: This should be a showcase bout for Damian Pinas. Cesar Almeida is an aged kickboxing veteran who is 7-2 in professional MMA, but this is a case where experience doesn’t tell the story. Pinas has not seen the judges’ scorecards. He’s got some solid striking himself, and he’s going to have about five inches of a reach advantage over Almeida. Expect this to be the kind of performance the UFC wants to see from a prospect in their sight like Pinas. (Prediction: Pinas) (Best Bet: Pinas via KO/TKO/DQ [-110])
Farid Basharat vs. John Garza: Credit to John Garza for taking on a challenge like the undefeated Farid Basharat can provide on just days’ notice. That said, Basharat has more experience and has a better resume. In spite of him being 6-1, Garza doesn’t have the strongest opponent history. While Garza has power, expect Basharat to work him over on the outside before using clinches and takedowns to his advantage. (Prediction: Basharat) (Best Bet: Basharat to win via unanimous decision [+165])
Ryan Gandra vs. Zachary Reese: This is going to be a good test for Ryan Gandra. He’s 9-1 and had a knockout win over Jose Medina, marking his first win since his Dana White’s Contender Series appearance. He’s got some strong hands, but Zachary Reese has the experience (while being the same age as Gandra) and feels like the more well-rounded fighter. (Prediction: Gandra) (Best Bet: Gandra via KO/TKO/DQ [-105])
Alessandro Costa vs. Cody Durden: Cody Durden takes this fight on short notice after snapping a losing skid in his last fight. That fight took place at bantamweight, however. And while the names he’s fought have been tough, it’s hard to gain momentum when it’s been a while since your last flyweight win, and you’re 35.
Durden will look to secure takedowns and win the fight there. Alessandro Costa, however, has some power to him that has earned him momentum of late. His striking will probably be too much for Durden to handle. (Prediction: Costa) (Best Bet: Costa via KO/TKO/DQ [+180])
