‘The Mac is Back’ — Conor McGregor has once again found a way to dominate headlines even before stepping inside the Octagon. The former two-division UFC champion officially checked in for UFC 329 in Las Vegas ahead of his highly anticipated comeback against Max Holloway. McGregor now returns to the Octagon for the first time since suffering his horrific leg injury against Dustin Poirier in 2021.
However, more than the return, McGregor’s Bruce Lee-inspired remarks quickly stole the spotlight and went viral across social media. In a viral video shared during fight week, McGregor compared himself to martial arts legend Bruce Lee while discussing his mindset and approach ahead of Saturday night’s main event. Meanwhile, the comparison is hardly new for McGregor. Over the years, ‘The Notorious’ has repeatedly spoken about Bruce Lee’s influence on his fighting philosophy.
Conor McGregor says he’s the greatest featherweight fighter since Bruce Lee
“It’s almost disrespectful. I’m not sure who [Max] thinks he’s talking to here.”
(via @espnmma) pic.twitter.com/wxjNaEVabu
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) July 8, 2026
Conor McGregor Explains Why He Belongs In UFC Featherweight GOAT Debate
In the past, McGregor had even described Lee as the closest comparison to his unique style during the build-up to his blockbuster boxing bout against Floyd Mayweather in 2017. Bruce Lee has long been one of McGregor’s biggest sporting inspirations, and his latest comments only reinforced that admiration. Ahead of his highly anticipated return at UFC 329, the former two-division champion has once again made a bold claim.
Speaking to ESPN during fight week, McGregor questioned why he is often left out of conversations surrounding the greatest featherweights in UFC history despite defeating some of the division’s biggest names. “The greatest featherweight of all time… I’ve beaten these men, and I haven’t been in the list. How have I beaten these men easily and handily and yet be kept from the list?” McGregor said.
The Irishman acknowledged that his limited number of featherweight title defenses has worked against him in the GOAT debate. However, he insisted that greatness should be judged on skill and the quality of victories rather than statistics alone.
“That’s a fair shout, for sure, and I understand why. I understand the whys of it, but you cannot get caught in all of this. What is the skill? Who is the best? Who is the greatest? Who was the best? And it is me, and the results show this,” he adds.
‘I Am The Greatest Featherweight Since Bruce Lee’: McGregor’s Bold UFC 329 Claim
McGregor also addressed why he never had the opportunity to build a longer reign as featherweight champion, pointing to injuries, opponent withdrawals and his move between divisions rather than a lack of willingness to defend his crown.
“It’s not like the fights weren’t there. It was just elsewhere; it was divisional changes. Originally, it was not me; it was a fighter pulling out or things of that nature that kind of led to it. I understand it, but I don’t agree with it,” McGregor explained.
He then doubled down with arguably his boldest statement yet, once again invoking martial arts icon Bruce Lee.
“I am the greatest featherweight since Bruce Lee, and on Saturday night, I will show it.”
While many fans continue to rank Jose Aldo, Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway above McGregor because of their multiple title defenses, the Irish superstar believes his victories over the division’s elite speak for themselves. Now, with UFC 329 marking his long-awaited return, McGregor has the perfect stage to back up his words and reignite the featherweight GOAT debate.
