McGregor nears – Conor McGregor is closing in on a return fight against Max Holloway on July 11 at UFC 329 in Las Vegas, with an announcement expected within the week.
Conor McGregor’s return to the octagon is moving from speculation to something closer to a handshake—agents and matchmaking staff are reportedly zeroing in on a specific opponent, venue, and date.
Sources told Misryoum that McGregor is close to a deal to fight Max Holloway on July 11 at UFC 329 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The matchup is expected to take place at welterweight, a notable shift for Holloway, who would be competing at 170 pounds for the first time.
An official announcement could arrive within the week, though there’s “no rush” as McGregor, 37, is said to be knee-deep in fight camp while preparing for his return in just eight weeks.
McGregor hasn’t fought since July 2021. The last time he stepped into the cage, it was nearly five years to the day before the potential Holloway showdown—when Holloway and Poirier’s trilogy landed with a brutal break to Holloway’s leg during his bout against Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
Still, the sport’s biggest question right now isn’t just who McGregor will face. It’s how the fight will be packaged—and whether the usual structure will change.
One source with knowledge of the situation said McGregor’s camp had been pushing to make the bout three rounds, not the standard five. A main event is almost always five rounds, with very few exceptions for last-minute replacements.
Even when a fight isn’t for a title, a three-round main event remains rare. The last time such a format was seen, according to the reporting, was Anderson Silva vs. Israel Adesanya at UFC 234, a short-notice matchup.
Those details could be part of the reason a final announcement is taking time as International Fight Week approaches. The expectation remains that Holloway vs. McGregor will be scheduled for five rounds, though the possibility of a three-round arrangement is tied to the ongoing hold-up.
Behind the scenes, the UFC has been circling a McGregor fight for years. Earlier expectations had him set to fight Michael Chandler in the summer of 2024, before McGregor was forced to pull out with a fractured pinky toe.
UFC President and CEO Dana White also signaled confidence recently, telling “The Jim Rome Show” that he was “extremely confident” McGregor would be fighting this summer—without naming the opponent.
MMA journalist Ariel Helwani added earlier this week that Holloway vs. McGregor was becoming increasingly likely as UFC 328 approached, in the wake of a shocking result in that event’s lead-up: Sean Strickland’s victory over Khamzat Chimaev.
For Holloway and McGregor, the potential meeting would also bring history into focus.. The two fought before in McGregor’s early run, when Holloway was just 20 and 7-2 as a professional.. McGregor won that bout by unanimous decision. and during it he tore his ACL. setting up a long recovery that kept him away for years.
Where this sits now is clear: a deal is reportedly close, the date is set, and the only thing left is turning a possible return fight into an official UFC booking that finally tells fans exactly who will be in the cage come July 11.
Conor McGregor Max Holloway UFC 329 UFC return T-Mobile Arena July 11 welterweight Dana White International Fight Week