UFC 329 McGregor vs Holloway 2: Everything you need to know ahead of Conor McGregor's return
(Courtesy : UFC)
Conor McGregor makes his return after a long hiatus.
Conor McGregor steps back into the Octagon for the first time in five years as he headlines UFC 329 against Max Holloway in a welterweight rematch thirteen years in the making, and it anchors the promotion’s biggest weekend of the year.
UFC’s annual International Fight Week reaches its peak on Saturday, July 11, as UFC 329: McGregor vs. Holloway 2 takes over the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It is easily the most anticipated card of the year, built around one man: Conor McGregor, who has not fought since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.
Standing across from him is Max Holloway, the former featherweight champion who is moving up to welterweight for the first time in his career to run it back with McGregor. The two first met in August 2013, early in both their careers, when McGregor won by unanimous decision.
Thirteen years on, both men are among the biggest stars the sport has produced, and the rematch closes out a week that also includes the 2026 UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony on July 9. Here’s everything you need to know before fight night.
UFC 329: Date, time, venue, and more
- Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026 (early hours of Sunday, July 12 in India and the UK)
- Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Early prelims start: 5:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM PT / 10:00 PM BST / 2:30 AM IST (July 12)
- Prelims start: 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT / 12:00 AM BST (July 12) / 4:30 AM IST (July 12)
- Main card start: 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT / 2:00 AM BST (July 12) / 6:30 AM IST (July 12)
- McGregor’s expected ring walk: Around 11:30 PM ET, depending on how the rest of the main card plays out, which puts the main event closer to 9:00 AM IST on Sunday, July 12. Fans tuning in strictly for McGregor vs. Holloway can expect a wait even after the main card goes live.
- Where to watch (USA): Paramount+
- Where to watch (India): Sony LIV and Sony Sports Network
- Where to watch (UK/Ireland): TNT Sports Box Office and HBO Max
- Where to watch (Australia): Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel
UFC 329 full match card
Main Card
- Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway – Welterweight
- Benoit Saint Denis vs Paddy Pimblett – Lightweight
- Cory Sandhagen vs Mario Bautista – Bantamweight
- Brandon Royval vs Lone’er Kavanagh – Flyweight
- King Green vs Terrance McKinney – Lightweight
Prelims
- Nikita Krylov vs Robert Whittaker – Light Heavyweight
- Gable Steveson vs Elisha Ellison – Heavyweight
- Cody Garbrandt vs Adrian Yanez – Bantamweight
- Luke Riley vs Kai Kamaka III – Featherweight
Early Prelims
- Tracy Cortez vs Wang Cong – Women’s Flyweight
- Damian Pinas vs Cesar Almeida – Middleweight
- Farid Basharat vs John Castaneda – Bantamweight
- Ryan Gandra vs Zachary Reese – Middleweight
- Alessandro Costa vs Cody Durden – Flyweight
Why does UFC 329 matter?
This is the biggest test yet of how much drawing power McGregor still has. He has fought once since 2018, and a broken leg kept him out of the Octagon for five years. Holloway, on the other hand, arrives on the back of a stacked run at featherweight and lightweight, and this is his first fight at 170 pounds.
Beyond the headline act, the card is stacked with ranked matchups across three divisions, making it one of the deepest numbered events of the year, not just a one-fight show built around McGregor’s name.
Conor McGregor’s long-awaited return
Five years is a long time in a sport built on activity and momentum. McGregor’s leg break at UFC 264 was one of the most talked-about injuries in UFC history, and everything about his comeback, from his conditioning to his ring rust, will be under the microscope.
A win over Holloway would be the biggest statement of his career at this stage, and a loss would raise fresh questions about what comes next.
Moving up two weight classes is not a small decision, and Holloway doing it against a fighter of McGregor’s profile shows how much confidence he has in his own gas tank and durability. If he wins, it opens up an entirely new chapter of his career at 170 pounds.
Pimblett-Saint Denis headlines a stacked undercard
The co-main event between Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint Denis is a genuine top-ten lightweight clash in its own right, and on paper it might be a better pure fight than the top of the card.
Add in Sandhagen vs Bautista and Royval vs Kavanagh, both featuring ranked fighters, and this is a card that holds up even once the McGregor hype settles.
Conclusion
UFC 329 is shaping up to be one of the most-watched cards of the year, built around Conor McGregor’s return and backed by a genuinely stacked undercard.
Fans in India can catch all the action on Sony LIV and Sony Sports Network from 6:30 AM IST on Sunday, July 12, with the main event expected closer to 9:00 AM IST.
Where can fans watch UFC 329?
Fans in the United States can watch the entire card live on Paramount+, with no pay-per-view required. In India, the event streams on Sony LIV and airs across Sony Sports Network channels. Viewers in the UK and Ireland can catch the fights on TNT Sports Box Office and HBO Max.
What time does the UFC 329 main event between McGregor and Holloway start?
The main event cage walks for Conor McGregor and Max Holloway are expected at approximately 12:00 AM ET in the United States on Sunday, July 12, which translates to around 5:00 AM BST in the UK and 9:30 AM IST in India, though timing will depend on how the earlier main-card bouts play out.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.
Blesson Daniel is a sub-editor who spends his days organizing words and managing social media, crafting bursts of creativity designed to make people smile. He occasionally dives into writing as well — whether it’s crafting articles, brainstorming ideas, or finding the perfect caption. Believing that every piece of writing offers an opportunity to tell a story, Blesson brings creativity and thoughtfulness to every project he takes on. When he’s not glued to his laptop, Blesson is likely planning his next travel adventure or losing himself in music. A passionate explorer of new places, sounds, and ideas, he believes in balancing work, play, and a good playlist in the background. Whether he’s editing, writing, or daydreaming about his next trip, Blesson is always chasing that sweet spot where creativity and curiosity collide to create something memorable.