Conor McGregor has given fans a glimpse into his preparation for UFC 329 as the former two-division champion gears up for his long-awaited return to the Octagon.
McGregor is set to face Max Holloway in a rematch more than five years after his last MMA appearance. The fight will headline UFC 329 on July 11 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Ahead of the comeback, former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre advised McGregor to step outside his comfort zone during camp to fully prepare for the challenge ahead.
Now that the fight is official, Conor McGregor has started opening up about how training is progressing behind the scenes.
While fans previously caught brief clips of McGregor working with fighters such as Dong Hyun Kim, much of his preparation remained private before the UFC 329 announcement.
Following confirmation of the fight, McGregor shared a message on social media, saying he feels energized and fully locked in for camp.
“Thank you for all the love, support, and encouragement over the last few days, people!” McGregor wrote. “I am feeling very energized entering intense training camp because of it! I am very grateful for the team I have around me.
“My coaches and training partners, we are all fully tuned in for the challenge at hand and it is a glorious time in our gym!
“Swipe to see an incredible snapshot of sparring with my long-time training partner and friend, Nicolo Solli, who is in phenomenal condition pushing me hard, with coaches monitoring our every exchange. I am better than ever, and I relish the opportunity to once again show my mastery in martial arts to the world.”
McGregor also revealed that the fighter featured in his sparring photos was Italian welterweight Nicolo Solli.
Solli holds a 6-3 professional record and recently went 2-1 under the Cage Warriors banner after returning from a lengthy layoff.
The Italian fighter’s size could play a key role in McGregor’s preparation for Holloway. Solli stands at 6-foot-2 with a 71.5-inch reach, making him physically bigger than Holloway at welterweight.
Many fans and analysts already believe Conor McGregor could benefit from competing at 170 pounds against Holloway. Training with larger sparring partners may only strengthen that advantage heading into the rematch.
McGregor defeated Holloway in their first meeting back in 2013, earning a unanimous decision victory despite suffering a torn ACL during the fight. Now, the Irish superstar hopes to prove he still belongs among the elite after years away from active competition.
Meanwhile, Holloway enters UFC 329 looking to bounce back from his recent loss to Charles Oliveira earlier this year.
