Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway II: UFC 329 Headliner Set for July 2025
"I am better than ever, and I relish the opportunity to once again show my mastery in martial arts to the world." — Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor is scheduled to return to the UFC for his first fight in five years, facing Max Holloway in a welterweight bout at UFC 329 on July 11, 2025. The event—set to take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas—will serve as the main card.
Event Details
UFC CEO Dana White announced the fight on April 5. The bout marks a rematch of their 2013 featherweight contest, which McGregor won by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 26. Both fighters sustained injuries during that initial fight: McGregor tore his ACL in the second round, and Holloway suffered a severe ankle injury.
The fight is scheduled for the welterweight division (170 pounds). Other bouts announced for the card include:
- Paddy Pimblett vs. Benoit Saint-Denis
- Lone'er Kavanagh vs. Brandon Royval
- Luke Riley vs. Kai Kamaka
Fighter Backgrounds
Conor McGregor
McGregor, 37, last competed at UFC 264 in July 2021, where he lost to Dustin Poirier by TKO after breaking his leg. He has not won a combat sports contest since January 2020. A planned return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in July 2024 was canceled after McGregor withdrew due to a broken toe.
McGregor holds a professional record of 22 wins and 6 losses since his 2008 debut. He was the UFC's first simultaneous two-weight champion, holding the featherweight and lightweight titles in 2015 and 2016. In 2024, he received an 18-month suspension for violating the UFC's anti-doping policy due to three missed drug tests within 12 months. The ban, backdated to September 2024, ended in March 2025. According to reports, McGregor has been tested 11 times by the Committee on Safeguarding and Anti-Doping in 2025—the most of any UFC fighter.
Max Holloway
Holloway, 34, has fought eight times since the first McGregor fight, winning five bouts. He is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Charles Oliveira in March 2025. Holloway has been competing at lightweight in recent fights.
"This is do-or-die for both of us." — Max Holloway
Holloway expressed respect for McGregor but stated he aims to win "in exciting fashion." He said he is preparing for the best version of McGregor and disregarding assumptions about McGregor's layoff or off-court activities.
Contract and Future Plans
McGregor has two fights remaining on his current UFC contract. According to journalist Ariel Helwani, the UFC offered McGregor a contract extension before this fight, which he declined. After UFC 329, McGregor is expected to have one more fight on his contract, potentially between January and June 2027.
McGregor has publicly expressed interest in bare-knuckle boxing and professional boxing. He is a part-owner of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). These options are unavailable while under contract with the UFC.
Legal Background
Outside competition, McGregor faced legal proceedings in 2024 when a civil court jury in Ireland found him liable for sexual assault and awarded the plaintiff 250,000 euros. In 2019, he pleaded guilty to assault for punching a man in a bar.
The July 2025 rematch represents a pivotal moment for both fighters—a chance for McGregor to reclaim relevance after years of injury and inactivity, and for Holloway to prove he remains elite in a higher weight class.