Conor McGregor discusses Max Holloway rematch, Ilia Topuria comparisons, contract frustrations, Terrance Crawford feud & more ahead of UFC 329 return
(Courtesy : UFC)
The Notorious sat down with Ariel Helwani for an interview before his return at UFC 329.
‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor is back in the headlines, and this time, he has a fight date to back it up. The former two-division UFC champion is set to headline UFC 329 on Saturday, July 11, 2026, inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, facing Max Holloway in what will be his first Octagon appearance in five years.
With fight night fast approaching, McGregor sat down with journalist Ariel Helwani on June 16 for an in-studio appearance that covered everything from his comeback plans to a fiery crossover feud with boxing legend Terence Crawford.
Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway 2
McGregor’s last fight came in July 2021 against Dustin Poirier, a bout that ended with him suffering fractures to both his fibula and tibia. Nearly five years removed from that moment, he is now stepping back in at welterweight for a rematch against Holloway, a fighter he first defeated back in 2013 in Boston.
Heading into the return, McGregor is a sizable +230 underdog while Holloway is a -310 favourite on FanDuel. But odds have never bothered McGregor, and his camp appears confident ahead of International Fight Week.
Also Read: Conor McGregor’s full record at Welterweight in UFC ahead of showdown with Max Holloway
Contract Frustrations: Next fight already booked
One of the more revealing moments of the Helwani interview centred on McGregor’s UFC contract situation. McGregor has been desperate to fight again but expressed frustration with the UFC despite agreeing to a two-fight deal.
McGregor confirmed he already has both fight dates locked in.
Speaking to Helwani, he said: “I am contracted, and I have both dates. I have both dates for my fights. I have July 11 — when would you think they would put me back in? April 2027. It’s almost a year later!”
Reports indicate that UFC officials had sought to secure McGregor on a fresh extension before finalising his UFC 329 return, but he declined. According to Ariel Helwani, “Conor comes back, they didn’t sign him to an extension. They wanted to, he didn’t want to.” His manager, Audie Attar, has insisted McGregor plans to stay active, which could pave the way for a potential late-2027 Netflix event once he reaches free agency.
Ilia Topuria comparisons
With Ilia Topuria suffering a stunning TKO loss to Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC Freedom 250 at the White House just days before, McGregor was asked about the long-running comparisons between himself and the Georgian.
McGregor was dismissive but playful when the subject came up.
“No way, does [Topuria remind fans of me?] He has the same tattoos, he says the same stuff, he does the same movements, he was going to scream into the thing,” McGregor told Helwani. “He’s a good lad, he’s alright. I like him. Maybe [he does]…”
McGregor also weighed in on the nature of Topuria’s recent defeat against Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House.
He said: “I knew that was going to happen to him. I’ve seen the training. You need to have it put on you in the gym. He’s a bit flat-footed. He has his areas. He’s good, and he can make inroads. His face will have to heal, for sure.
I’d say his face is smashed up. He got banged up badly over the course of the fight, which caused him to quit. It’s going to be a dark place for him right now. He’s going to have to dig deep.”
The Terence Crawford Feud: $200 Million on the table
McGregor also found himself in a public back-and-forth with retired boxing superstar Terence Crawford following UFC Freedom 250. After Topuria’s loss, Crawford took to social media to mock the former champion, writing:
“This the guy that said he would knock me out and whoop me and Shakur at the same time?”
McGregor fired back in defence of Topuria, posting:
“What the f— are you saying? You can wrestle yet you are afraid of an MMA fight. That to me is pitiful. The kid was beaten in an MMA fight, of which you don’t have the courage for.”
McGregor went on to shed light on a previously discussed crossover deal. He revealed that a two-fight arrangement, one under boxing rules, one under MMA rules, had been tabled by Saudi entertainment chairman Turki Al-Sheikh, with hundreds of millions of dollars on offer.
However, Crawford turned it down, saying he had no interest in stepping into the Octagon to be kicked and elbowed. Any remaining chance of the two meeting in a combat capacity appeared to evaporate when Crawford retired from boxing in December 2025 following an unbeaten run, finishing with a perfect 42-0 record.
When and where is Conor McGregor’s UFC fight taking place?
Conor McGregor returns to the Octagon at UFC 329 on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he will face Max Holloway in the main event.
What is the status of Conor McGregor’s UFC contract?
McGregor is currently on a two-fight UFC deal and has declined to sign an extension. His second contracted fight is already scheduled for April 2027, though he has expressed frustration at the nearly year-long gap between his two bouts.
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