Conor McGregor to return to UFC after five-year hiatus
Conor McGregor is set to step back into the octagon for the first time in five years when he takes on Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11, reports BritPanorama.
The welterweight contest will unfold at Las Vegas’s T-Mobile Arena, marking the Irish fighter’s first bout since 2021. The two fighters previously met at featherweight back in 2013, with McGregor emerging victorious via a points decision.
Holloway, now 34, represents a significant challenge for McGregor’s return, having competed consistently at the elite level of lightweight in recent years. McGregor’s last appearance in the UFC ended badly when he suffered a broken leg during his defeat to Dustin Poirier four years ago.
McGregor had been scheduled to make his long-awaited return against American fighter Michael Chandler last year, but that bout fell through when McGregor withdrew just over a fortnight before the event after sustaining a broken toe. Since his professional debut in 2008, McGregor has accumulated a record of 22 victories and six losses, having made history as the UFC’s first fighter to hold titles in two divisions simultaneously.
His return follows an 18-month suspension for breaching the UFC’s anti-doping regulations, imposed after three missed drug tests within a 12-month period in 2024. The ban was backdated to September 2024 and came to an end in March this year. Since completing his suspension, McGregor has undergone extensive scrutiny from Combat Sports Anti-Doping authorities, with the Irishman subject to 11 tests in 2025 — a figure that exceeds any other competitor on the UFC roster.
The UFC 329 card will also feature several British fighters aiming to make their mark in Las Vegas. Liverpool’s Paddy Pimblett will face French opponent Benoit Saint-Denis in what will be his first outing since suffering defeat against Justin Gaethje at the start of the year. Meanwhile, flyweight Lone’er Kavanagh has been matched against Brandon Royval, and featherweight Luke Riley brings an unblemished professional record into his contest with Kai Kamaka.
The presence of multiple British fighters on this high-profile card underscores the growing strength of UK talent within the UFC’s ranks and offers an intriguing backdrop as McGregor ventures back into the spotlight.
As the anticipation builds for this pivotal encounter, it is a moment that reminds fans of the sport’s unpredictable nature, where past glories hold little sway over present challenges.
