Conor McGregor has been advised to drop back down to the lightweight division following his quick defeat to Max Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Former rival Jose Aldo publicly suggested that the Irish star reassess his dietary habits and weight management after the 11 July 2026 loss, which ended in a first-round stoppage due to a knee injury.
The Defeat at UFC 329
The 38-year-old fighter’s latest octagon appearance lasted less than a single round before the knee injury forced a premature end to the bout against Holloway.
Medical intervention followed quickly. McGregor underwent surgery in August to repair the damaged knee. Since then, the fighter has steadily progressed through rehabilitation and started plotting a return to structured training sessions.
Jose Aldo Advises a Return to Lightweight
Addressing the future of his former rival, Aldo pointed to weight class management as the critical hurdle for any future UFC success. Speaking in an interview with MMA Fighting, Aldo noted that competing at welterweight no longer serves McGregor’s best competitive interests.
“Yes, I think first of all he needs to go through some re-education about his diet to see if he can drop his weight back down,” Aldo said, as reported by MMA Fighting.
Accomplishing that shift, however, requires a strict dietary overhaul given the fighter’s heavier frame in recent years.
Contract Status and Training Plans
Despite the medical layoff and the definitive nature of the defeat at UFC 329, McGregor remains tied to the promotion. The veteran competitor has one fight remaining on his current UFC contract. With rehabilitation progressing, the fighter intends to resume full training camps to fulfill that final obligation.
Whether the promotion pairs him with a lightweight contender or another opponent remains unannounced. Official matchmaking decisions from UFC executives are pending as McGregor clears final medical milestones from his August knee surgery.
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