Conor McGregor has returned to his peak fighting weight in preparation for his UFC comeback against Max Holloway, drawing crowds of awestruck supporters at Laguna Beach in Orange County. The 37-year-old is widely recognised as one of the UFC’s greatest competitors and remains the sport’s biggest draw by some distance, despite a five-year absence from competition. His last professional MMA bout took place at UFC 264 on 10 July 2021, when he met Dustin Poirier for their trilogy encounter. That evening concluded catastrophically for McGregor,
as he sustained a first-round TKO defeat via doctor’s intervention following a broken leg in the opening round. A proposed bout with Michael Chandler two years ago never came to fruition. This followed allegations that McGregor attempted to exploit a USADA loophole to gain access to prohibited performance-enhancing substances while recovering from his severe 2021 leg fracture. After half a decade away, McGregor will make his return to the very cage where he built his legendary reputation as The Notorious. His opponent will be Holloway,
who’s coming off a loss to Charles Oliveira, reports the Irish Star . The two will face off on 11 July at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada. In the lead-up, McGregor cut a cheerful and composed figure ahead of his comeback, stunning delighted fans during his appearance at Laguna Beach. There, he displayed his impressive physique while gearing up for his comeback at a career-high UFC weight. McGregor ran a complimentary workout session for attendees, sparring alongside his coach. He was also spotted mingling
with supporters, reinforcing his cherished status amongst UFC enthusiasts. This marks McGregor’s second encounter with Holloway. The duo previously clashed at UFC Fight Night: Shogun v Sonnen back in August 2013, with the Dubliner emerging victorious. What weight will Conor McGregor fight at? McGregor’s clash with Holloway is scheduled for welterweight, with both targeting the 170-pound mark. It represents a significant step up for Holloway, whose career has predominantly been at featherweight, while McGregor is well-versed at this weight following several bouts in the UFC’s
welterweight category. Should it materialise at 170, it would equal the heaviest MMA weight division McGregor has ever fought in. He’s previously competed there against Nate Diaz and during his crossover boxing match with Floyd Mayweather, though he’s never exceeded welterweight. McGregor served ban Last year, McGregor accepted an 18-month suspension for violating the UFC’s anti-doping regulations after missing three drug tests within a 12-month period in 2024. The ban, backdated to his third missed test in September 2024, officially concluded in March. Since then,
McGregor has undergone 11 tests this year by Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD), surpassing any other fighter on the UFC roster. Click here to sign up to our sport newsletter, bringing you the top stories and biggest headlines from Ireland and beyond .
Conor McGregor, Max Holloway, UFC comeback, Laguna Beach, T-Mobile Arena, welterweight, 170-pound catch, CSAD testing, Dustin Poirier, UFC 264