McGregor Slaps Holloway’s Glasses Off as UFC 329 Sets Gate Record
The Irishman’s return after five years away from the octagon has already broken the promotion’s live gate record, with $25 million in ticket sales.
Conor McGregor slapped the Oakley Meta smart glasses from Max Holloway’s face during a heated face-off at the UFC 329 weigh-ins in Las Vegas, then refused the Hawaiian’s outstretched hand. The incident, captured on the glasses themselves, came after both men made weight for their welterweight main event — McGregor at 170.5 pounds, Holloway at 170 — and marked the sharpest flashpoint of a fight week that has already rewritten the promotion’s financial record books.
UFC president Dana White confirmed that the card, anchored by McGregor’s first bout since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in July 2021, has generated a live gate of $25 million, surpassing the $22 million set by UFC 306 at Sphere. Viewed from Las Vegas, the figure underscores the drawing power of a fighter who has not won since January 2020 and who, in the intervening years, was found liable for sexual assault in a Dublin civil case — a verdict he is appealing. Irish media note that McGregor’s reputation at home has been severely damaged by the case and by a series of other controversies, yet the T-Mobile Arena is sold out.
Betting markets, tracked by US financial outlets, have tightened considerably since opening. Holloway, a former featherweight champion making his welterweight debut, remains the favourite, but his odds have shortened from -345 to -235, while McGregor has drifted from +250 to +190. The volume of wagers, however, leans heavily toward the Irishman, with 85 percent of individual bets backing him. Brazilian and British sports desks highlight the co-main event, where Liverpool’s Paddy Pimblett faces France’s Benoît Saint Denis in a lightweight bout that has drawn 87 percent of bets toward the Englishman despite Saint Denis being the narrow favourite.
McGregor’s last appearance in the octagon ended with a doctor’s stoppage after he shattered his tibia. A planned return against Michael Chandler in 2024 was scrapped when McGregor broke a toe. Now 37, he faces Holloway for the second time, having won a unanimous decision when both were featherweights in 2013. Holloway, 34, has fought eight times since McGregor’s hiatus, going 5-3, most recently losing the symbolic BMF belt to Charles Oliveira. The rematch is scheduled for five rounds at 170 pounds, a division in which McGregor has not competed since 2020.
The card also features a flyweight contest between Brandon Royval and Lone’er Kavanagh, with Kavanagh a -220 favourite, and a bantamweight bout pitting Cory Sandhagen against Mario Bautista. The event streams on Paramount+ in the United States and on TNT Sports pay-per-view in the United Kingdom. With the gate record already secured, the sporting consequences now rest entirely on whether McGregor can reverse a 1-3 slide since 2018, or whether Holloway can avenge a loss that came when he was just 21.
| Latin American press | 0.00 | neutral |
|---|---|---|
| Russian & CIS press | +0.20 | neutral |
| Atlantic / Anglosphere press | −0.30 | critical |
| Arab Gulf press | +0.50 | aligned |
The return of McGregor is reported with detachment, highlighting the intensity of the face-off but without taking sides.
Factual details and quotes from the protagonists are used to create a balanced account.
The narrative omits the aggressive threats and controversy surrounding McGregor's comeback, focusing only on the neutral event.
McGregor's threats are amplified, presenting him as the dominant force who will end Holloway's career.
By quoting McGregor's own words and describing the physical confrontation, the narrative creates a sense of imminent danger and personal vendetta.
The narrative omits McGregor's recent losses and the doubts about his form, focusing solely on his aggressive rhetoric.
The comeback is presented as controversial, with skepticism about McGregor's readiness and the circumstances.
By labeling the event as 'controversial' and highlighting the five-year gap, the narrative casts doubt on the legitimacy of the return.
The narrative omits the excitement and positive anticipation from fans and the promotion, focusing only on the negative aspects.
The event is presented as a historic moment for the UFC and the Middle East, emphasizing the Abu Dhabi connection.
By linking the fight to a series of events culminating in Abu Dhabi, the narrative promotes the region's role in global sports and creates a sense of local pride.
The narrative omits any controversy or skepticism about McGregor's return, focusing solely on the positive and celebratory aspects.
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