After years of comeback rumors, training clips, and cancelled plans, Conor McGregor is officially heading back to the UFC. The former two-division champion is set to face Max Holloway in a rematch at UFC 329 during International Fight Week in Las Vegas.
The news immediately grabbed attention across the MMA world because fans have been waiting a long time to see Conor McGregor compete again. The Irish superstar has not stepped inside the Octagon since his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier in 2021, where he suffered a serious leg injury. Since then, there have been several talks about possible opponents and return dates, but nothing ever became official until now.
This matchup feels bigger than a normal comeback fight because of the history between the two fighters. McGregor and Holloway first fought more than a decade ago, long before either became one of the UFC’s biggest names.
CONOR MCGREGOR vs MAX HOLLOWAY 2 !!!!
Your International Fight Week main event is confirmed!
[ #UFC329 LIVE July 11 on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/uVxVdgV9Gm
— UFC (@ufc) May 17, 2026
Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway 1 was in 2013
The first meeting between McGregor and Holloway took place on August 17, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 26 in Boston. Back then, both fighters were still trying to make a name for themselves in the featherweight division.
Conor McGregor had just arrived in the UFC with plenty of hype after dominating in Europe, while Holloway was only 21 years old and still developing into the fighter fans know today. Even though McGregor was known mainly for his striking, he ended up using his wrestling throughout the fight after hurting his knee early on.
He controlled large parts of the bout with takedowns and ground control before winning by unanimous decision. At the time, it was simply viewed as another strong performance from an exciting prospect. Looking back now, though, it became one of the most important early fights in modern UFC history because both men later turned into champions and global stars.
Since that first meeting, their careers have gone in very different directions. McGregor became the biggest draw the UFC has ever seen and made history by winning titles in two weight classes. Holloway, meanwhile, built a reputation as one of the greatest featherweights ever, known for his endless cardio, elite boxing, and ability to push a relentless pace for five rounds.
The rematch comes at an interesting point for both fighters. Holloway has remained active against elite competition and recently reminded everyone of his quality with huge performances over the last few years. McGregor, on the other hand, enters the fight with plenty of questions surrounding him because of his long layoff.
Still, whenever Conor McGregor fights, the attention around the sport changes completely. Whether fans support him or not, his return always becomes one of the biggest talking points in combat sports.
For Holloway, this is also a massive opportunity. Beating Conor McGregor on such a huge stage would add another major moment to an already legendary career and finally give him revenge for the loss he suffered back in 2013.
With UFC 329 expected to be one of the biggest events of the year, the rematch already feels like more than just another fight. It is a clash between two different UFC eras, two former champions, and two fighters whose careers became legendary after sharing the Octagon for the first time over ten years ago.
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