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Conor McGregor returns to UFC after five years for Max Holloway rematch in Las Vegas
Conor McGregor will face Max Holloway again at UFC 329 after a five-year hiatus. The Irish fighter won their first bout in 2013.
T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will host the main event of UFC 329 this Saturday night. Conor McGregor, who hasn't stepped into the UFC octagon in five years, is preparing for a welterweight rematch with Max Holloway. This five-round bout will conclude International Fight Week.
McGregor (22-6 MMA) hasn't fought officially since breaking his tibia against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. The former featherweight and lightweight champion was originally scheduled to face Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June 2024, but a toe injury led to the fight being postponed and ultimately not rescheduled.
The 37-year-old McGregor will compete at welterweight for the first time in six years. The Irish fighter aims to beat Holloway for a second time, following his unanimous decision victory in Boston in August 2013, and thrust himself back into title contention.
Holloway (27-9 MMA), meanwhile, will officially fight at welterweight for the first time after a long career in the 145- and 155-pound divisions.
McGregor and Holloway's statements
McGregor said he is grateful for the opportunity to revive his career and has no immediate plans to change weight classes after the Holloway rematch. At Thursday's press conference, he stated, "The OG double champ is coming for the triple crown. Sounds like a great story to me."
The 34-year-old Holloway, who lost the 'BMF' title to Charles Oliveira at UFC 326 in March, hopes to avenge his loss to McGregor and enter the 170-pound title race if he decides not to return to lightweight.
Holloway responded to McGregor's claim that he 'won't land a single punch' by saying, "We'll see Saturday night." McGregor said he found Holloway's suggestion of a potential December rematch 'disrespectful' and unnecessary. Holloway fired back, stating, "I'll strangle him."
What happened in the first fight?
McGregor defeated Holloway by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26) at UFC Fight Night 26 in Boston on August 17, 2013. Before they became global stars, McGregor's striking was effective early in that preliminary card bout.
McGregor stunned the Hawaiian fighter with a big uppercut in the second round, then controlled the majority of the later rounds on the ground to secure the win. The Irish fighter suffered an ACL injury during the bout and was sidelined for 11 months after surgery.
Title picture
No belt is on the line in this matchup. Holloway, ranked fourth at lightweight, makes his welterweight debut. McGregor's long layoff means he is unranked in any UFC division.
Other main card bouts
In the lightweight co-main event, No. 5-ranked Frenchman Benoit Saint Denis faces No. 9-ranked Englishman Paddy Pimblett in a critical title contender bout. Saint Denis (17-3 MMA) aims to halt Pimblett's (23-4 MMA) momentum with his high-level grappling. Pimblett lost the interim title to Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC 324 in January.
A high-stakes bantamweight title eliminator will take place between Cory Sandhagen and Mario Bautista. In the flyweight division, former title challenger Brandon Royval will test the durability of Englishman Lone'er Kavanagh. The main card opens with a lightweight bout between King Green and Terrance McKinney.
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