Conor McGregor fight week has finally arrived, and with it comes the bold, headline-grabbing claims that have long defined the Irish superstar. The former two-division UFC champion officially kicked off his media obligations ahead of his highly anticipated return against Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas this Saturday. It has been five years since fans last saw McGregor compete inside the Octagon.
His last appearance came at UFC 264, where he suffered a second consecutive defeat to Dustin Poirier after breaking his ankle late in the opening round of their trilogy bout. Despite the lengthy layoff, McGregor wasted no time reigniting one of MMA’s oldest debates: the identity of the greatest UFC fighter of all time. While many fans point to legends such as Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, or Anderson Silva, ‘The Notorious’ unsurprisingly crowned himself as the sport’s greatest while unveiling his own all-time UFC top 10.
Speaking during a recent interview with Complex, McGregor dismissed several all-time greats in trademark fashion before declaring himself the undisputed GOAT. He said, “The Mac is back, done it all. Ahead of everyone else. No. 1! All weights triple KOs! Jon looks very soft. “Where’s he now? Who’s left, baby? It’s the pain game: who can melt last, who can stay the longest, and here I am still. None of these boys—including Jon, with all his history are on my level. He’s got eight knockouts; I’ve got 19. I’d beat Georges St-Pierre. I’d beat Jon. Jon can’t box.”
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McGregor also revealed that there were once discussions about a potential catchweight showdown against Anderson Silva, likely around the 170-pound mark. However, the biggest surprise came when he rearranged Complex’s list of the greatest UFC fighters ever to create his own rankings. His personal top 10 was:
- Conor McGregor
- Anderson Silva
- Jon Jones
- Demetrious Johnson
- Valentina Shevchenko
- Amanda Nunes
- Islam Makhachev
- Daniel Cormier
- Khabib Nurmagomedov
- Alexander Volkanovski
📊🐐 Conor Mcgregor builds his G.O.A.T. list:
1. Conor Mcgregor
2. Anderson Silva
3. Jon Jones
4. Demetrious Johnson
5. Valentina Shevchenko
6. Amanda Nunes
7. Islam Makhachev
8. Daniel Cormier
9. Khabib Nurmagomedov
10. Alexander Volkanovski🎥 @Complex pic.twitter.com/IGLoiO2xmC
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) July 8, 2026
McGregor didn’t stop at naming himself the greatest fighter in UFC history. He also insisted that he is the greatest featherweight the promotion has ever seen. Speaking to Brett Okamoto, the Irishman questioned why his accomplishments at 145 pounds have often been overlooked despite victories over some of the division’s biggest names.
He said, “This rankings system of the greatest featherweights – that I’ve beaten these men, and haven’t been in the list. How have I beaten these men easily and handily, and yet been kept from the list? What is the skill, who is the greatest, who is the best? And, it is me. The results show this. It’s not like the fights weren’t there, it was just elsewhere. I am the greatest featherweight since Bruce Lee, and Saturday night I will show it.”
For context, McGregor compiled a perfect 7-0 record at featherweight, capturing the UFC title with his iconic 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo at UFC 194. However, he never defended the belt before moving permanently to lightweight and welterweight. Now, after half a decade away from competition, McGregor insists he is in the best possible frame of mind heading into his long-awaited return. Whether he can back up his latest wave of bold claims inside the Octagon against Holloway remains one of the biggest storylines heading into UFC 329.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
