Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2 odds: Comparing betting lines for UFC 329, best value picks and more

Perhaps the biggest name in mixed martial arts history during the 2010s, Conor McGregor, returns to the octagon for the first time in five years to face an old foe, former BMF and featherweight champion Max Holloway in his welterweight debut.

McGregor’s last victory was a January 2020 first-round KO victory over the now-retired Donald Cerrone at UFC 246. Since that victory, a slew of controversies has followed McGregor. Meanwhile, Holloway has consistently fought some of the best competition the UFC has to offer, including a last-second KO victory over current-lightweight champion Justin Gaejthe.

While Holloway lost his last fight earlier in 2026 to the dangerous ground specialist Charles Olivera, Saturday night’s fight should be a stand-up affair with both fighters known to be some of the most powerful strikers in UFC history.

Bettors will have no shortage of options ahead of a stacked fight card that also features lightweight contenders Benoit Saint Denis and Paddy Pimblett in the co-main event, each looking to make their case to be in the lightweight title conversation. Further down the card in the featured prelim fight, former middleweight champion Robert Whitaker makes his light-heavyweight debut against Nikita Krylov and Olympic wrestling gold medalist and former WWE pro wrestler Gable Steveson makes his highly-anticipated UFC debut against Elisha Ellison.

The Sporting News has you covered with the latest UFC 329 betting odds, expert picks and predictions for every featured fight on the card. Plus, new users can bet $5 on this card and get $200 in Bonus Bets instantly at DraftKings Sportsbook. 

UFC 329 main card odds

Main event: Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway (Welterweight)

Best value bet

After the historic upsets of the last two UFC title fight events, including Justin Gaejthe’s victory over Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 and Sean Strikland’s win over Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328, betting on the favorite might not make sense anymore. Holloway has been the more active fighter and has been through a gauntlet of wars with Topuria, Gaejthe and most recently Olivera. He has never fought at welterweight before, meanwhile each of McGregor’s last three fights dating back to 2021 have been at this weight class.

Remember Holloway used to fight at featherweight, and when he moved up to 155 to face Dustin Porier for the interim lightweight title in 2019, he lost. We have seen what Holloway can do with some more time at 155, but we have never seen what he may look like at 170. There’s a power difference, and facing one of the most powerful punchers in UFC history in McGregor might be too much for him. That’s the reasoning here. A fighter moving up a weight class that isn’t known for power against a fighter known for ending fights quickly. Regardless of the layoff, McGregor to win is the right bet here after all is said and done. 

Benoit Saint-Denis vs. Paddy Pimblett (Lightweight)

Best value bet

Saint-Denis has been on a heater since losing to Renato Moicano in September 2024; he has rattled off four straight victories over some of the lightweight division’s best fighters, including up-and-coming contender Mauricio Rauffy and gatekeepers Beneil Dariush and Dan Hooker. Saint-Denis has everything needed to be the next up for the lightweight belt in this division after Arman Tsarukyan and presumably the winner of the main event get their respective shots. Pimblett will have a chance at lightweight gold one day, but its too early for him right now. His fight with Gaejthe in January exposed a lot of the holes in his game, and Saint-Denis is just more ready for this moment. Saint Denis to win is the best bet here.

Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista (Bantamweight)

Best value bet

Sandhagen is one of the most tested and true bantamweight contenders in the UFC. He’s fought the best of the best including current bantamweight champion Petr Yan and former bantamweight champions Merab Dvalishvili, Aljamain Sterling and former flyweight champion Deiveson Figuieredo. The experience factor is what should lead Sandhagen to victory against Mario Bautista, who hasn’t faced the same level of competition outside of Jose Aldo and Umar Nurmagomedov. Expect Sandhagen to walk away Saturday night with his hand raised.

Brandon Royval vs. Lone’er Kavanagh (Flyweight)

Best value bet

This is an interesting underdog pick. Royval has been around for years, fighting the undoubted best of the best in the flyweight division, from former champions Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja to current title holder Joshua Van in a fight of the night performance. Kavanagh is the latest in a string of contenders who are dangerous. He just came off a win over Moreno in February and should win this bout. But something about Royval’s grit and determination has me backing the underdog in this fight. I’d love to see how he turns out on Saturday night.

King Green vs. Terrance McKinney (Lightweight)

Best value bet

There’s a reason this fight was moved to the main card over Robert Whittaker’s light-heavyweight debut and Gable Steveson’s UFC debut. It’s because this one is expected to be a banger between two of the scrappiest fighters the organization has to offer. King Green is a well respected legend who loves to entertain with his unorthodox striking style, while McKinney is never shy to run away from a hard-hitting battle. There is significant juice on this one ending inside of the distance, but I’m betting on the youth of McKinney to prevail here. At 38 years old, Green might not have many fights like this left in him, and that’s why he might not be able to outlast McKinney in this one.

UFC 320 preliminary card odds

Nikita Krylov vs. Robert Whittaker (Light Heavyweight)

Best value bet

At one point, Whittaker was an underdog in this fight, but entering fight week, it appears the odds have flipped. To be honest, Bobby Knuckles probably should have made this move up to light heavyweight a long time ago. The division desperately needs someone like him to invigorate it, and there’s no doubt that if he can just get past Krylov, there will be some intriguing matchups for him moving forward. He’s faced the best of the best at the middleweight division and has been in some wars. That kind of damage is hard to come back from, but the reprieve on not having to cut weight down to 185 pounds should give him some extra strength heading into this match. I’m backing Whittaker to win on the judges’ scorecards in this one. 

Gable Steveson vs. Elisha Ellison (Heavyweight)

Best value bet

Steveson draws a favorable matchup for his first UFC fight against another heavyweight who likely isn’t a UFC-caliber fighter, even in the thin heavyweight division. Elijah Ellison is 5-2 with his only two wins coming in his professional MMA debut in the Conquest of the Cage organization. Compare that to a distinguished and accomplished wrestler who has an Olympic gold medal to his name, and he will be no match for Steveson. The real bet is on whether or not this fight will end in the first round. I think it will finish either by TKO or submission. This is nothing more than a showcase fight for someone who the organization thinks highly of and wants him to make a name for himself under the bright lights of casual and hardcore MMA fans alike.

Cody Garbrandt vs. Adrian Yanez (Bantamweight)

Best value bet

There isn’t much value in betting on Yanez at such short pricing across the sportsbooks. It appears unlikely that Garbrandt can pull off an upset in this fight against an always-game Yanez. It seems like more people are counting out the former bantamweight champion than they should after he did win his last fight over Long Xiao in March. Let’s bet on Garbrandt to take this to the judges’ scorcards and not get knocked out. He hasn’t been finished since his 2024 submission loss to Deiveson Figueiredo, and in a stand-and-bang matchup, lets hope for a striking clinic for all three rounds of this bout.

Luke Riley vs. Kai Kamaka (Featherweight)

Best value bet

Riley is undefeated and takes on Kamaka in his third UFC fight to open up the prelims on a McGregor card. Coming from the same organization that McGregor did all those years back in Cage Warriors, Riley should be able to put on a clinic against the American fighter. DraftKings offers the best odds on the moneyline to take Riley in what should be a fun featherweight scrap. 

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