UFC announces Conor McGregor’s return against Max Holloway for International Fight Week in July
(Courtesy : UFC)
The Notorious returns after a five-year absence.
Former UFC featherweight and lightweight Champion Conor McGregor will make his much-awaited return to the octagon in July against a familiar opponent in Max Holloway. After all the teasers and a season of The Ultimate Fighter, Conor is finally set to return at one of UFC’s biggest stages.
The return marks his first MMA fight since July 2021, when he suffered a horrible leg injury at the end of the first round against Dustin Poirier. McGregor was aiming to win the rubber match as Dustin had bagged the win in their second fight in early 2021.
Conor McGregor and Max Holloway will compete at 170lbs
UFC has also confirmed the rumors as McGregor and Holloway are set to compete in a Welterweight bout. This marks Conor’s fourth bout in UFC’s Welterweight division, while Holloway, who has primarily competed as a featherweight, moved up to 155lbs for good in 2024.
In his last outing, Holloway dropped the BMF title against Charles Oliveira in a grapple-heavy affair. He is also the former featherweight champion. That said, the two have already met once in the octagon in August 2013, when a young Holloway fought a surging trash-talking featherweight from Ireland.
McGregor secured the win in their first meeting and went on to capture belts in two seperate division simulataneously, the first one to do so.
However, this time around, McGregor is the one dealing with ring rust and a lengthy absence, while Holloway, despite his recent loss, has already settled the score with Dustin Poirier, his first loss in UFC, and secured the BMF title in a 2024 Fight of the Year and Knockout of the Year against Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.
Now, the two fan favorites and former Champions are poised to clash once again on July 11 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas during the International Fight Week.
Full card for UFC 329: McGregor vs Holloway 2
- Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway – Welterweight bout
- Paddy Pimblett vs Benoit Saint Denis – Lightweight bout
- Cody Garbrandt vs Adrian Yanez – Bantamweight bout
- Robert Whittaker vs Nikita Krylov – Light Heavyweight bout
- Brandon Royval vs Lone’er Kavanagh – Flyweight bout
- Tracy Cortez vs Wang Cong – Women’s Flyweight bout
- Damian Pinas vs Cesar Almeida – Middleweight bout
- Luke Riley vs Kai Kamaka III – Featherweight bout
- Ode’ Osbourne vs Cody Durden -Flyweight bout
When and where will UFC 329 take place?
UFC 329 will be held on July 11, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
Who will Conor McGregor fight in his UFC return?
Conor McGregor is set to face Max Holloway in a rematch at Welterweight.
When did McGregor and Holloway first fight?
Their first meeting took place in 2013, with McGregor winning by unanimous decision.
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.