Sports

McGregor rips Holloway's glasses off in intense face-off

Nairavoice · Jul 10, 2026 · 4 min read

Conor McGregor was welcomed back by fans as he ripped Max Holloway’s glasses off in an intense face-off before the pair’s rematch at UFC 329 in Las Vegas on Saturday.

McGregor, 37, is set to return to the octagon for the first time since breaking his leg in defeat by Dustin Poirier in 2021.

McGregor has been involved in a series of controversies since, including court cases and missed drugs tests, and critics have questioned whether he deserves the spotlight.

McGregor was loudly cheered by fans inside the T-Mobile Arena, however, while American opponent Holloway, who lost to the Irishman in 2013, was booed.

After a heated face-off where McGregor threw Holloway’s glasses before the pair were separated by security, he hoisted two commemorative UFC titles draped in Irish colours into the air.

The belts symbolised McGregor’s record as the first simultaneous two-weight world champion in UFC history after his featherweight triumph in 2015 and his lightweight victory in 2016.

“I’m excited to showcase what human grit, desire and dedication can do,” said McGregor.

“Despite the odds, we can overcome them, never be a victim of your circumstances, overcome them. I’m going to show the world you too can do the same.”

In November 2024, Nikita Hand, who accused McGregor of raping her, won her claim against him for damages for ‘assault by rape’ in a civil case.

A jury found that McGregor assaulted Hand in a Dublin hotel in December 2018 and he was ordered to pay £206,000 plus damages.

McGregor lost his civil jury appeal in July 2025 and Hand announced the following month her intention to sue him and two other people for damages, alleging they engaged in malicious abuse of court processes.

Last year, McGregor also accepted an 18-month ban for violating the UFC’s anti-doping policy after missing three drugs tests within a 12-month period in 2024.

The ban, which was backdated to the third missed test in September 2024, concluded in March.

Some commentators argue that support for McGregor within Ireland has dwindled, and although there were fans in Irish colours present, they were fewer in number and less vocal than at previous news conferences he has conducted.

But UFC chiefs appear to believe McGregor will still draw eyes to the sport and make the promotion money without affecting the brand.

When asked about the size of the fight between McGregor and Holloway, UFC president Dana White said it would draw, “the biggest gate in UFC history”.

McGregor sings Wonderall as Pimblett cheered

McGregor rose to fame with his brash and witty personality captivating fans like no MMA fighter before him, and his charisma was on show as he sang Oasis’ hit Wonderwall to fans.

McGregor then jokingly asked Britain’s Paddy Pimblett why he did not sing along with him.

Pimblett is in the co-main event against France’s Benoit Saint-Denis in his first fight since defeat by Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight belt in January.

Pimblett was cheered and serenaded by fans, but said he felt the second-most popular fighter on stage, behind McGregor.

“I’m not getting the biggest pop, big Conor McGregor’s here, but it’s nice to be getting the second biggest pop behind him, you know who the boy is,” said Pimblett.

“We’re all having a good time, everyone is laughing, the crowd is having a good time, this is what the sport is about.”

McGregor has won just one fight in 10 years, but repeatedly claimed he would “destroy” Holloway, who is also a former UFC featherweight champion.

Holloway, 34, regarded as one of the best UFC fighters of all time, engaged occasionally with McGregor but spent the majority of the interactions smiling to himself and shaking his head in amusement.

“He’s got two belts, I can’t wait to take those two pretty belts off his hands,” said Holloway.

“He’s doing all the right things, he’s found God, got his family right here, I can’t wait guys.”

In 2021, McGregor was the highest paid athlete in the world, earning just under £128m over 12 months, but he says he is returning to action “for the love of the game”.

“Honey I’m home. I put a bed in the gym, I lived in the gym literally,” said McGregor.

“No travel, no traffic, with a lot of young, hungry lions around me angling to be in my position.

“So it’s been a tremendous experience, a tremendous camp, here we go. Glory to God.”