Conor McGregor draws Bruce Lee parallel while questioning MMA featherweight GOAT list before UFC 329

Conor McGregor, a former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion, has indicated that he deserves to be considered one of the GOATs (Greatest Of All Time) in the featherweight division in the sport of MMA. 

Having ended the legendary Jose Aldo's 18-fight win streak in 2015, in addition to holding featherweight victories over Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway, McGregor also compared himself to Jeet Kune Do founder and martial arts icon Bruce Lee. 

Conor McGregor inserts himself into MMA featherweight GOAT talk before welterweight showdown against Max Holloway at UFC 329

Currently, Conor McGregor is set to end his MMA hiatus that dates back to July 2021, as he'll take on former UFC featherweight titlist and ex-BMF titleholder Max Holloway in a welterweight match at UFC 329 on July 11. 

Speaking to ESPN MMA's Brett Okamoto, McGregor reiterated his belief that he'll beat Holloway again. He'd previously bested "Blessed" via unanimous decision in a featherweight clash back in 2013. 

Incidentally, Holloway is one of the distinguished fighters whom many fans and experts include in the debates and discussions surrounding who the MMA featherweight GOAT is.

While some claim that Jose Aldo deserves to be hailed as the greatest 145-pound mixed martial arts fighter ever, others name Alexander Volkanovski as the more deserving candidate. Elsewhere, a few feel Holloway has surely earned the right to be labelled the MMA featherweight GOAT. 

McGregor, intriguingly, addressed the same when speaking about his goals for his upcoming UFC 329 matchup. He stated: 

"You know, prove my level. There are many things that I have taken in this camp that have been fuel to my fire. One -- the greatest featherweight of all time. You know, this ranking 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?" 

McGregor proceeded to imply that his skill level makes him meritorious to be included in the MMA featherweight GOAT debate. The Irishman signaled that it's one of the reasons why he loves Holloway as his comeback opponent, as the Hawaiian fighter has faced a number of 145-pound greats over the years. 

Conor McGregor acknowledges his critics' arguments but reaffirms his featherweight GOAT beliefs; makes Bruce Lee comparison

Brett Okamoto appeared to suggest that some in the MMA community exclude Conor McGregor from the featherweight GOAT debate by citing that he didn't compete frequently enough against the best at that weight class. McGregor responded by seemingly acknowledging the argument, saying, "Yeah. That's a fair shout for sure." 

Nevertheless, he reaffirmed his belief that he's the best MMA featherweight ever. McGregor explained, "I understand the 'whys' of it. But you cannot get caught in all of this. What is the skill? Who is the greatest? Who is the best? And it is me. And the results show this." 

Moreover, "The Notorious" one underlined that his move to other weight classes stemmed from a lack of competition at featherweight. McGregor insinuated that he'd already beaten the best at 145 pounds and had to seek worthy adversaries in different weight divisions. 

Alluding to his short-notice welterweight debut against Nate Diaz in early 2016 -- precipitated by the withdrawal of an injured Rafael dos Anjos from their UFC lightweight title match -- McGregor noted that his opponents' pullouts and other factors of that ilk caused his transition to weight divisions outside featherweight. 

"Mystic Mac" emphasized that he understands his critics' aforementioned justification of sidelining him from the MMA featherweight GOAT discussions but disagrees with that. 

Drawing a Bruce Lee comparison -- something he's done in the past as well -- McGregor said, "I am the greatest featherweight since Bruce Lee." 

Watch Conor McGregor discuss the MMA GOAT debate and compare himself to the late Bruce Lee below (*comments at the 4:30-minute mark of the video):