Conor McGregor Returns to Fight Max Holloway at UFC 329 This July

Conor McGregor is officially back. Dana White confirmed the news during an Instagram Live stream on May 16, and the fight card is exactly what everyone wanted. McGregor will rematch Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 329 on July 11, 2026 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Nearly five years away from the octagon, and this is how he comes back. International Fight Week. The biggest stage the UFC has.

I'll be real, I wasn't sure this fight was ever going to happen. McGregor has been out since UFC 264 in July 2021, when he broke his tibia and fibula in the trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier. Then came the scheduled return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June 2024, which fell apart after a toe injury. Add in an 18-month anti-doping suspension that kept him sidelined even longer, and it felt like we were watching the retirement arc play out in slow motion. But here we are.

The Rematch, 13 Years in the Making

These two first fought back in August 2013. It was McGregor's second UFC fight and Holloway's sixth. McGregor won by unanimous decision, notably tearing his ACL during the bout. That was a completely different era for both of them. Holloway went on to become the UFC Featherweight Champion, won the BMF belt with that unbelievable knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, and defended it against Dustin Poirier last summer at UFC 318. The kid who lost to McGregor in 2013 became one of the most decorated fighters in UFC history.

Holloway's most recent fight was a unanimous decision loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 326 in March 2026, where Oliveira controlled the fight with dominant grappling from start to finish. That loss clearly didn't cool the demand for this matchup though. UFC commentator Daniel Cormier recently revealed that Holloway was actively pushing for the McGregor rematch, saying he believed he earned it after everything he's done for the promotion.

Welterweight and the Three-Round Question

This fight is expected to take place at welterweight, which is a big deal for both guys. McGregor has only fought once at 170 pounds, his 40-second finish of Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 in January 2020. For Holloway, this will be his welterweight debut. The man has spent his entire career at featherweight and lightweight, so jumping up to 170 is uncharted territory.

There's also been some noise around the fight length. Reports from the New York Post indicate McGregor has been pushing for a three-round main event instead of the standard five rounds. That's unusual for a UFC headliner, and it's worth keeping an eye on as the fight gets closer. Whether you think that helps or hurts McGregor is its own conversation.

Opening Odds

The oddsmakers aren't shy about where they stand on this one. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Holloway opened as the -310 favorite with McGregor sitting as a +250 underdog. That tells you everything about where the betting public sees a guy who hasn't fought in nearly five years and is turning 38 just days after the fight. McGregor will turn 38 on July 14, three days after stepping into the cage.

But honestly, counting out McGregor has never been a smart bet. The man built his entire career on proving people wrong.

The Undercard Is Stacking Up

The rest of the UFC 329 card is looking strong too. Confirmed bouts include Benoît Saint-Denis vs. Paddy Pimblett, Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista, Brandon Royval vs. Lone'er Kavanagh, Leon Edwards vs. Daniel Rodriguez at welterweight, and heavyweight prospect Gable Steveson vs. Elisha Ellison. This is shaping up to be one of the deepest Fight Week cards in recent memory.

The main card airs live on Paramount+ starting at 9:00 PM ET.

Tickets and How to Be There

If you want to be in the building for this, you need to move now. International Fight Week cards at T-Mobile Arena sell out every year, and secondary market prices are already starting around $405. Only a small percentage of tickets remain on resale platforms. Official tickets are available through AXS.com and ufc.com/tickets. If you want the full VIP experience with prime seating, weigh-in access, athlete meet and greets, and pre-fight hospitality, check out the official UFC VIP Experience packages.

Between the fights, the fan expo, and everything Las Vegas brings to the table, Fight Week is the ultimate MMA weekend. People fly in from all over the world for this. Don't sleep on it.

Cover photo courtesy of Ticketmaster