Max Holloway says he knew for a long time that he would face Conor McGregor again at UFC 329 on July 11, and that keeping it secret for roughly five years was “hard.” Holloway also sounds relieved to fight at 170 pounds without the kind of weight-cut stress th
Max Holloway didn’t just react when the UFC finally announced it. He described a longer, quieter wait—one that stretched far enough to test even his patience.
McGregor is set to return during International Fight Week at UFC 329 on July 11, and his opponent will be Holloway in a welterweight bout at 170 pounds. It will be a rematch of their first meeting in 2013, when McGregor won by decision.
Dana White officially announced the fight last Saturday night. Holloway said he had known about the matchup “for a minute” and admitted it was difficult to keep it under wraps for so long.
“You know how hard it is to keep that fight under wraps for how long we did? We knew that fight for a minute, bro,” Holloway said.
He also framed the stakes through something more physical than motivational: the weight. Holloway said he’s excited to compete at 170 pounds and doesn’t have to stress over a difficult weight cut.
“I’m excited, I get to eat what I want to eat, boys … imagine I miss weight at 170,” he added.
For McGregor, the return carries a different kind of difficulty. Holloway has stayed active at an elite level while McGregor has been away from the sport for about five years. That gap sets the tone for the matchup—one built on momentum, timing, and a long runway of anticipation.
During his stretch of elite competition, Holloway picked up notable wins over Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje. He also suffered title-fight losses to Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira.
McGregor’s last fight came in July 2021 against Poirier, ending in devastating fashion after he fractured both his tibia and fibula.
When International Fight Week arrives and UFC 329 tips on July 11, it won’t just be a rematch. It will be a return—one Holloway says he’s been preparing his life around, quietly, for far longer than most fans realize.
Max Holloway Conor McGregor UFC 329 International Fight Week July 11 welterweight 170 pounds Dana White Dustin Poirier Justin Gaethje Ilia Topuria Charles Oliveira
So McGregor just shows up after 5 years and it’s a “welterweight” rematch?? Bro can’t even walk normal.
I didn’t realize they were doing 170 again, that’s like the best part. Holloway sounds way less stressed, which is good because the weight cuts are brutal. Still wild they “kept it secret” for years when UFC announces everything anyway.
Wait so Conor fractured his legs vs Poirier in 2021 but now he’s fighting again like nothing happened?? Also “170 pounds” sounds like they’re just avoiding the real matchups… like why not keep it in the exact weight class from their last fight? Seems kinda convenient.
Five years of keeping it secret is insane, but also I feel like half of Instagram already knew. Holloway said he gets to “eat what he wants,” and I’m like okay, we all know that means less discipline lol. UFC 329 July 11… International Fight Week always feels chaotic, so we’ll see if McGregor is actually in his prime or just riding the hype.