Michael Bisping believes Conor McGregor remains a dangerous opponent for Max Holloway ahead of their UFC 329 welterweight rematch, citing the Irishman’s size, power and mindset despite a five-year absence from competition.

McGregor is scheduled to face Holloway in the UFC 329 main event on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas during International Fight Week. The bout marks a rematch of their first meeting in August 2013, when McGregor defeated Holloway by unanimous decision in a featherweight contest.

Bisping praised McGregor for accepting the fight after a lengthy layoff. “I respect Conor coming back and taking on Max Holloway, because Holloway’s been very active whilst Conor hasn’t fought for 5 years. He’s days away from his 38th birthday when he does compete against Max Holloway, so full respect for taking this match up,” said Bisping, according to Casino and as noted by LowKick. He also pointed to the welterweight limit as a potential advantage for McGregor, adding: “It’s happening at 170-pounds, so I think that gives Conor a little bit of an advantage. I think naturally he’s a bigger guy, and certainly when you look at punching power, Conor will have massive power and advantage over Max Holloway.”

At the same time, Bisping highlighted the challenges posed by Holloway’s style and recent activity. “But Holloway breaks you down over the course of the fight though. When he points at the floor in the last 10 seconds, that’s because he’s broken you down over that entire period and he knows he’s got you and he’s like, ‘okay, let’s go’. And that’s when he knocks you out,” said Bisping. “He’s quick, he’s slick, he’s smooth, he’s got excellent footwork, he’s got great hand speed. I don’t know, it’s a really interesting fight for both of them.”

Questions remain over McGregor’s condition after suffering a broken leg in his July 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier and subsequently undergoing surgery. Bisping acknowledged those concerns, saying: “Conor’s been away for 5 years, obviously that’s an issue. The leg break, that’s an issue. But also, this is a guy that took the sport by storm, and was a two-weight division champion.” He added: “He’s only 37, and yeah, that’s not young as a pro fighter, but he’s not an old man, and in some ways you could argue that not fighting for 5 years, he hasn’t had the wear and tear.