TLDR
- Conor McGregor faces Max Holloway in a rematch at UFC 329 on July 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
- Training footage shows McGregor practicing takedowns with his team at his Las Vegas gym
- McGregor is returning to UFC competition after a 5-year layoff following his loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021
- The fight will take place at welterweight, a division Holloway has never competed in before
- McGregor won their first meeting in 2013 at featherweight by landing 4 takedowns despite injuring his knee
Sources: yardbarker.com | mmajunkie.usatoday.com
Conor McGregor is preparing for his return to UFC competition with an unexpected focus on wrestling. Training footage leaked from his camp shows the former two-division champion drilling takedowns ahead of his July 12 rematch with Max Holloway at UFC 329.
The video was shared on July 6 by the Instagram account Fight IQ MMA News. It shows McGregor working through takedown techniques with his training partners at his Las Vegas gym.
McGregor’s coach told reporters that the 37-year-old fighter has never been more motivated. The Irish fighter has been preparing for months, with sources saying he has spent considerable time on his wrestling game.
First Fight Featured Wrestling Success
The wrestling focus makes sense given their history. When McGregor and Holloway first fought in 2013, McGregor landed 4 takedowns out of his career total of just 5.
McGregor won that featherweight bout but injured his knee during the grappling exchanges. He was forced to fight more conservatively for the rest of the match.
Now, 13 years later, the two will meet again at welterweight. This represents new territory for Holloway, who has never competed in the 170-pound division.
🚨Leak d’un entraînement de grappling de Conor au SBG
Qu’est-ce que mes grappleurs en pensent ? 👀🎤 https://t.co/k3wPeKgcdF pic.twitter.com/hDyK5PQvem
— REVOLUTION MMA (@RevolutionMMA_) July 6, 2026
McGregor fought at welterweight twice before, once in 2016 and again in 2020. His record at the weight class stands at 2-1.
Holloway brings an impressive resume to the fight. He holds records for the longest winning streak in UFC featherweight history with 13 consecutive victories. He also has 9 knockout wins and previously held the featherweight championship.
McGregor has been active on social media sharing his training progress. On July 8, he posted photos from his Las Vegas gym with the caption “Training in my Las Vegas gym! READY.”
The images showed him working on various techniques including grappling, back control, and wrestling positions. He was also seen practicing standing guard passes and collar tie positions.
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McGregor’s return comes after a 5-year absence from competition. His last fight was a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier on July 10, 2021, at UFC 264.
McGregor’s overall UFC record stands at 10-3 with a total MMA record of 22-5. He has 19 career knockout victories and 14 first-round finishes.
Holloway enters the fight with a 27-9 MMA record and a 23-9 UFC record. His last fight was a decision loss to Charles Oliveira on March 7, 2026.
Oddsmakers favor Holloway heading into the bout. FanDuel lists Holloway at -235 and McGregor at +182.
McGregor fights out of SBG Ireland and holds a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Holloway trains at Gracie Technics and Legacy Muay Thai in Hawaii and also holds a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
The fight takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on July 12. It marks McGregor’s first UFC appearance since his leg injury against Poirier five years ago.
