‘I’m never going against him’

Dricus du Plessis is the most recent fighter to voice their support for Conor McGregor.

After five years away from the Octagon, ‘Notorious’ is taken into account an enormous underdog ahead of his fight with Max Holloway on Saturday night.

Tom Aspinall recently predicted we’ll see an upset knockout in the primary round of the UFC 329 principal event.

Can Conor McGregor 🇮🇪 overcome a five-year layoff to beat Max Holloway again?

Dricus du Plessis refuses to back against Conor McGregor

Dricus du Plessis also believes that Conor McGregor could win by KO in Las Vegas this weekend.

The previous UFC middleweight champion is an enormous fan of each men, but he can’t bring himself to back against ‘Mystic Mac’.

“I’ve never ever made a secret of it. I’m a large Conor fan, but I’m also a large Max fan,” Du Plessis told Fight Forecast.

“, Conor began coming up once I was just starting out my pro profession, his UFC run began. So, he was a man that I genuinely looked as much as as I progressed in the game. Imagine this, imagine Conor beating Max Holloway and getting that title shot.

“I’m going with the Mac. I’m never going against him. I’m never going against Conor. Yeah. Max Holloway, massive fan, love him. He’s an awesome fighter, and he’s deserving of every little thing that he’s gotten and all of the praise, but I can’t go against Conor.”

The interviewer went on to ask Du Plessis how he thinks McGregor will get the job done at UFC 329.

“Conor has that scary timing,” DDP replied.

“Everybody that’s fought him says that. That timing, and he has that sneaky power. Everybody that fights him says when he hits you, you’re feeling it.

“It just takes one. Ilia [Topuria] knocked out Max, so it may well be done.”

When will Dricus du Plessis fight next?

Dricus du Plessis hasn’t fought since he was outwrestled by Khamzat Chimaev for five rounds at UFC 319 in August 2025.

The 32-year-old will return from his middleweight title loss at UFC Oklahoma City on July 18.

Du Plessis will face Kamaru Usman in a long-awaited principal event battle of former UFC champions.

Here is the complete line-up for the Oklahoma City card without the burden classes:

UFC Oklahoma City fight card

• Dricus du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman
• Jared Cannonier vs. Christian Leroy Duncan
• Kevin Holland vs. Jacobe Smith
• Chase Hooper vs. Mitch Ramirez
• Tabatha Ricci vs. Fatima Kline
• Tommy McMillen vs. Alberto Montes
• Austin Bashi vs. Jose Miguel Delgado
• Allen Frye Jr. vs. Alvin Hines
• Levi Rodrigues Jr. vs. Felipe Franco
• Alden Coria vs. Stewart Nicoll
• Dione Barbosa vs. Anna Melisano