TLDR
- Conor McGregor will fight Max Holloway on July 11 at UFC 329 in Las Vegas
- McGregor says UFC gave him a ‘great deal’ and ‘honored me, finally’
- The fight marks McGregor’s first bout in five years
- McGregor previously defeated Holloway by decision in August 2013
- A broken pinky toe forced McGregor out of scheduled June 2024 fight with Michael Chandler
Sources: mmajunkie.usatoday.com
Conor McGregor says he is happy with the deal the UFC gave him for his comeback fight this summer. The former champion will face Max Holloway on July 11 at UFC 329 in Las Vegas.
“I’ve got a great deal off the UFC. I’m very, very happy,” McGregor told Mac Energy. “They honored me, finally.”
McGregor has been away from the octagon for five years. His last fight was scheduled for June 2024 against Michael Chandler at UFC 303, but he pulled out due to a broken pinky toe.
It took almost two years after that cancellation for the UFC to book McGregor for another fight. Despite the long wait, McGregor expressed satisfaction with how things worked out.
Conor McGregor boasts he signed ‘great deal’ for Max Holloway rematch at UFC 329 ☘️ 💰 💵
📰 https://t.co/gZiTP9GoSr pic.twitter.com/1dkCgCAwHV
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) May 25, 2026
McGregor Feels Fresh After Long Break
The Irish fighter said the extended time away has benefited his body and mind. “I’m out so long, five years. My body’s fresh. My mind is sharp,” McGregor said.
McGregor holds a record of 22-6 in mixed martial arts overall and 10-4 in the UFC. He described his return as “like a musical – music to my ears.”
The 36-year-old fighter said his training camp is going well. “Preparation is going very well. We’re living, breathing and sleeping in the gym,” he said.
McGregor and Holloway will compete in a five-round welterweight main event. The fight will stream on Paramount+ from T-Mobile Arena.
Rematch With Former Opponent
McGregor and Holloway first fought in August 2013 at featherweight. McGregor won that bout by unanimous decision despite suffering a knee injury during the fight.
“July 11, and the opponent is a man I’ve beaten before in Max Holloway,” McGregor said. “He’s an established fighter, an accomplished fighter, former UFC world champion, multiple time, so this is a quality opponent.”
Holloway holds a record of 27-9 in mixed martial arts and 23-9 in the UFC. He has won the UFC featherweight championship multiple times during his career.
McGregor described his first performance against Holloway as “martial arts mastery.” He said he plans to demonstrate his improvement since their last meeting.
“I plan on doing it again. I plan on showing my growth and my improvements in there, so I’m very, very excited for it,” McGregor said.
Both fighters have evolved since their first encounter over a decade ago. Holloway became one of the top featherweights in UFC history, while McGregor became the first fighter to hold two UFC titles at the same time.
The welterweight division fight will be contested at 170 pounds. Their first fight took place at 145 pounds in the featherweight division.
McGregor said he is ready to return after the long layoff and prove he can still compete at the highest level of the sport.
