Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway 2 is slated for July 11, 2026 at UFC 329, and it's arguably the biggest comeback bout in the UFC's history. Two men who once were rising prospects, now become bona fide MMA legends, era-defining stars who once met on the undercard of a UFC Fight Night event are reuniting 13 years after their initial encounter.
There's a reason why this is one of the biggest UFC fights of the year… it's not just a rematch, it's a referendum on Conor McGregor's entire comeback story. McGregor's last fight was in July 2021, where he suffered a first-round leg break from Dustin Poirier that ended UFC 264 and, for a period of time, his career seemed to be suspended. In the meantime, Max Holloway continued to fight, continue to evolve and to develop one of the most decorated resumes of his era, including a period of time where he was the BMF titleholder. It's been over a decade since fans saw "Blessed" get defeated in 2013 and they've been hoping to see if the current version of Holloway can still hold the man.
It's not just a win-loss column when it comes to what's on the line. For McGregor, it's a testament to the fact the fighter behind the global brand still fits in the Octagon. It's an opportunity to take his revenge on the biggest needle-mover the sport has seen for the only puzzle he never solved in his career for Holloway. There's legacy, redemption and UFC history at stake at T-Mobile Arena.
| Detail | Information |
| Event | UFC 329 |
| Main Event | Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2 |
| Division | Welterweight (170 lbs) |
| Scheduled Rounds | 5 |
| Venue | T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Date | Saturday, July 11, 2026 |
This is why UFC 329 is the main event for International Fight Week, one of the promotion's largest events of the year. They're both beginning UFC main events at welterweight, and without Holloway returning alongside McGregor, this would be a straight-up fight night, but with Holloway up a complete two weight classes from where they first met, it is a true crossover fight.
| Category | Conor McGregor | Max Holloway |
| Professional Record | 22–6 (19 KOs) | 27–9 (12 KOs) |
| Age | 37 (turns 38 days after the fight) | 34 |
| Height | 5'9" | 5'11" |
| Reach | 74" | 69" |
| Stance | Southpaw | Orthodox |
| UFC Debut | 2013 | 2012 |
The taller man is Holloway, who is two inches taller, but the reach advantage is McGregor's prerogative - a five-inch physical advantage that is usually overlooked. Holloway, who is three years younger at 34, has been in the ring for a year and a half and has kept his body in prime condition against some of the world's best fighters, whereas McGregor has been in the ring for just five years before a layoff. In the flesh, the situation was even closer than the layoff story lets on, but surely, experience and recency are on Holloway's side.
McGregor and Holloway already had one fight that wasn't on a card even of their own, a fight that took place on Aug. 17, 2013, in a featherweight contest between the two fighters. McGregor won a clean unanimous decision, the UFC's first of the promotion's first two-division champions, and Holloway his first loss.
Both were untried men at the time. McGregor was an emerging Irish fighter who had yet to make a splash in the UFC and Holloway was a 21-year-old just getting his legs under him after making his UFC debut last year. The rest was history: McGregor got his shot to fame, and Holloway emerged from that initial loss as a three-time featherweight champion and one of the most consistent and prolific strikers in the history of the promotion. The Match 2 is a rematch 2 weight classes higher and 13 years later, and the prize money is more than either fighter could have ever dreamed of when they sat down to bet in 2013.
Conor McGregor will likely be seeking early pressure and precision counters, getting a leg kick in to set range and his reach in to control distance before he catches the pace before finding a sequence that could end the fight.
Max Holloway will likely press McGregor hard and fast and have body shots in his arsenal, relying on his championship class stamina to take the next one or two rounds in the third, fourth and fifth.
While one could argue that Holloway's plan to keep the fight going longer is the more logical plan given the prolonged layoff and uncertainty over McGregor's cardio, it only takes one good exchange from McGregor to alter the entire course of the match.
Conor McGregor hasn't even put on a fight since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021 and is 1-3 across his four appearances in the UFC, having last won in January 2020 with a first-round TKO of Donald Cerrone. The planned return against Michael Chandler was forced to be called off in 2024, bringing two more injury-related ring-rust rumours and a comeback story to this fight. Outside of the ring, he's also handled legal issues, which will further complicate his return.
Max Holloway, on the other hand, has been active, having made eight starts since McGregor's last bout, and is 5-3. He's taken part in featherweight title fights against Ilia Topuria and Alex Volkanovski, and won and later lost the symbolic BMF title, most recently dropping a decision to Charles Oliveira in March 2026. Wins against Yair Rodriguez, Arnold Allen, "The Korean Zombie," Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier complete a record of all ranked, top-tier opponents. Whether or not Holloway's setback last week is to be taken into account, he has still got the momentum going in his favor.
Betting insights are informative and analytical only and odds may vary prior to fight night; always gamble responsibly and only bet amounts that you are willing to lose.
Max Holloway was a heavy betting favourite, with early lines showing as bad as -550 for Holloway over +420 for McGregor. As the fight week has been going on, that spread has been closing up considerably, as McGregor has been closing towards the +180 to +190 range and Holloway has been hovering in the -213 to -240 range, depending on the sportsbook. It's more of a trend of public funds going toward McGregor's power and name recognition, and not a change in analytical thinking, as most oddsmakers still see Holloway's activity, volume and durability as a more reliable way to run a five-rounder.
The method-of-victory markets favour a Holloway stoppage in the middle to late rounds, but the finishing rate of the man (19 knockouts in 22 victories) makes an early KO/TKO worth considering for the bettor who has faith in his power and reach. Over/under rounds markets indicate that this matchup may not be considered a strong contender for the final horn, and the primary concern is whether or not McGregor can continue to land clean in the face of Holloway's speed and intensity.
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This fight is not just about one victory to one man, Conor McGregor. After being away from the sport for five years, a victory is proof he's revived and is back to the elite class, cementing his status as the sport's biggest star. It might also open the floodgates to future title changes, which may be far down the road. If he loses, though, there will be doubts about his in-cage prime continuing to be behind him.
If Max Holloway could win over McGregor, it would be one of the most iconic names in the sport of MMA falling in the ring, and it would give his record a significant, signature-besting moment. If he wins here, he will add to his all-time UFC strike highs and several title reigns, making him one of the greatest featherweights to ever step in the Octagon, and now welterweights.
The most probable game plan is that it'll be McGregor's time to strike first, testing Holloway's chin with his reach and left arm in the first few rounds, then Holloway is going to find it easier to survive any storm and drive the fight to his advantage. The keys to McGregor's success are patience and power — leaving it to Holloway's lights to come back to haunt him, while working in measured, timed counter-striking routes significantly raise his chances of making it to the end.
Holloway's keys to victory are output and conditioning: setting him up on a pace that forces McGregor to play defense and get tired in a way he's never been able to handle in years. The late stoppage seems the most likely outcome by far, but a quick McGregor knockout is also a possibility, as he can certainly hit hard and is quite long. The odds in the betting game indicate that the odds are higher than the fight will go to a full 5-round decision, but it's still not a foregone conclusion. All that is written here is subject to change, because mixed martial arts is still a game of uncertainty, and this fight is no exception.
Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway 2 is one of the most anticipated fights of recent UFC history and here's why. It features a legendary striker who is coming off a long awaited comeback and a veteran with a ton of volume and experience who's fiercely battling for his status in the pantheon of legends. From the McGregor knockout to a Holloway stoppage under pressure and pace, or a hard-fought decision, this main event is expected to be a landmark battle for both participants and the sport.
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The rematch will air on UFC 329 on Saturday, July 11, 2026 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
