Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2 Official for UFC 329 in Las Vegas

Since then, McGregor’s comeback has repeatedly stalled. Most notably:

• He withdrew from a scheduled fight with Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in 2024 due to a toe injury
• He repeatedly hinted at a return throughout 2025 and 2026
• He publicly questioned his UFC contract after the promotion’s shift away from the traditional pay-per-view model under Paramount

Now, after nearly four years away from the octagon, the comeback is finally official.

A Rematch 13 Years in the Making

McGregor and Max Holloway first fought back in August 2013 at UFC Fight Night 26. McGregor won that fight by unanimous decision despite tearing his ACL during the bout.

At the time, Holloway was still an emerging prospect. Since then, Holloway has evolved into one of the greatest featherweights in MMA history.

Holloway’s Legendary Run

Since losing to McGregor in 2013, Holloway has:

• Captured the UFC featherweight title
• Won the BMF championship
• Defeated elite names including:
  • Justin Gaethje
  • Jose Aldo
  • Yair Rodriguez
  • Dustin Poirier

At 34 years old, Holloway remains one of the UFC’s most respected and durable stars.

Strategic Timing From UFC

Interestingly, Dana White announced the fight while rival promotion Most Valuable Promotions was holding its debut MMA event headlined by Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano.

The timing appeared intentional as the UFC continues battling for attention amid growing MMA competition outside the organization.

Big Questions Remain

Although the fight is booked, uncertainty still surrounds McGregor’s long-term future. Questions remain regarding:

• Whether he signed a new UFC contract
• How many fights remain on his deal
• What version of McGregor will return after nearly four inactive years

At 37 years old and coming off catastrophic injuries, McGregor faces enormous pressure entering UFC 329. Conor McGregor is officially coming back. After more than a decade since their first meeting, he’ll return against one of the most accomplished fighters of this generation in Max Holloway on one of the UFC’s biggest stages of 2026.