Conor McGregor will make his UFC return against Max Holloway at UFC 329, marking his first appearance since 2021. The former featherweight and lightweight champion last competed in July 2021. He suffered a leg injury at the end of the first round of his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier.
UFC 329 will take place during International Fight Week in Las Vegas.
McGregor’s Return After Years of Teasing
McGregor has spent years teasing a return to competition. He served as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter while expressing his desire to fight again in interviews and on social media. McGregor burst onto the UFC scene in 2013 and quickly became the biggest star in the promotion’s history thanks to his confidence and performances.
In 2016, McGregor became the first fighter in UFC history to hold championships in two divisions simultaneously. He knocked out José Aldo in 13 seconds at UFC 194 to capture the featherweight title before adding lightweight gold less than a year later with a stoppage of Eddie Alvarez.
Following a two-year hiatus to take part in a boxing match against Floyd Mayweather Jr., McGregor returned to the Octagon for a showdown with Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229. He later scored a 40-second knockout victory over Donald Cerrone before suffering back-to-back losses to Poirier. Now, the 37-year-old aims to reassert himself at the top of the sport.
Holloway’s Path to the Rematch
Standing across from McGregor will be former BMF titleholder Holloway. His UFC career has included a featherweight championship reign. Holloway has earned victories over Aldo (twice), Gaethje, Poirier, Frankie Edgar and The Korean Zombie.
A Rematch Over a Decade in the Making
UFC 329’s main event will serve as a rematch nearly 13 years in the making. The pair first met in August 2013, when McGregor earned a unanimous decision victory over Holloway in Boston.
- McGregor defeated Holloway by unanimous decision in their first fight.
- Holloway is a former BMF titleholder.
- McGregor is returning to UFC after last competing in July 2021.
The two fan favourites are set to meet once again under the bright lights of T-Mobile Arena to headline one of UFC’s biggest weeks of the year.