Conor McGregor is Back: Five-year Layoff Ends With Max Holloway Showdown at UFC 329
The long-awaited comeback sets up one of the biggest fights of the year as McGregor steps back into the Octagon against a familiar rival.
The Irishman, who will turn 38 three days after the fight, has not fought since suffering a broken leg against long-term rival Dustin Poirier.
McGregor was originally meant to be make his comeback against American Michael Chandler who had been angling for the fight for many years.
In the build-up to the fight McGregor suffered a broken toe and had to withdraw from the contest.
The fight which will take place in Las Vegas on 11th July will see the pair rematch after their original meeting in 2013, where McGregor was judged the winner after three rounds.
They’ll be supported by Liverpool’s Paddy Pimblett who will face Benoit Saint-Denis in the co-main event in his first bout since losing to Justin Gaethje earlier this year.
Holloway is an extremely dangerous fighter and boasts the record for most punches thrown per minute in UFC history.
The 34 year old fights out of Hawaii, USA and has earned a record of 27-9 and held the UFC Featherweight Championship for over three years.
McGregor holds a similar professional record at 22-6, making his debut in 2008.
After growing up in Crumlin, Ireland, McGregor became the UFC’s two-weight world champion after dominating Eddie Alvarez in 2016 to win the Lightweight title after previously knocking out all-time great Jose Aldo to win Featherweight gold.
Last year he accepted an 18-month ban for violating the UFC’s anti-doping policy after missing three drugs tests within a 12-month period in 2024.
After becoming a double champion in 2016, McGregor faced Floyd Mayweather the following year in a lucrative boxing bout, before defeat by Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018 in the biggest-selling UFC pay-per-view of all time.
He beat Donald Cerrone two years later but that triumph remains his only win in the last 10 years.
