The Notorious is Back: Conor McGregor Returns to UFC on July 11
After a Five-Year Absence, MMA's Biggest Star Is Ready to Reclaim His Throne
The Announcement That Shook the MMA World
Conor McGregor will return to the Octagon for the first time since 2021, with UFC CEO Dana White officially announcing his comeback fight against Max Holloway on July 11 in Las Vegas. The fight is set as the main event of UFC 329 at the T-Mobile Arena, taking place during International Fight Week — and the contest will be held at welterweight.
A Rematch Five Years in the Making
This isn't the first time these two have met inside the cage. It's a rematch of their featherweight bout back in August 2013, which McGregor won by a three-round decision — remarkably, while fighting through a torn ACL. But make no mistake: this version of Holloway presents a very different challenge, and the fight would likely be one of the toughest tests of McGregor's career.
The Long Road Back
McGregor's absence from the sport has been anything but quiet. He last fought on July 10, 2021, suffering a devastating TKO loss to Dustin Poirier after breaking his leg during the final seconds of the first round. Since then, McGregor has had multiple potential comeback opportunities fall through, most notably a long-discussed matchup with Michael Chandler — the two even coached against each other on The Ultimate Fighter, but the fight never came to fruition.
What's at Stake for Both Fighters
McGregor, now 37, carries a record of 22-6-0 and is 1-3 in his last four bouts. The stakes couldn't be higher for a man who was once untouchable at the top of the sport. On the other side, Holloway, 34, is a former featherweight champion with wins over Justin Gaethje, Jose Aldo (twice), Dustin Poirier, and Frankie Edgar — and is 1-1 since moving to lightweight in 2025, having lost his last bout to Charles Oliveira in March.
From Two-Belt History to Redemption
Let's not forget what McGregor once was. With his flashy striking style and penchant for entertaining trash-talk, McGregor debuted with the UFC in 2013 and quickly became the biggest star in the sport, adding the lightweight title to his featherweight crown in 2016 to become the first athlete to hold two UFC belts simultaneously.
Now, the question on every fan's lips is simple: Can "The Notorious" write one final chapter of glory — or has time finally caught up with him?
July 11 cannot come soon enough.
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