UFC 329 McGregor vs Holloway 2 takes place Saturday, July 11, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It is the centerpiece of UFC International Fight Week and marks Conor McGregor’s first appearance in the Octagon since July 2021 — five years and one day after he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.
This is not a title fight. It is a welterweight bout between two former featherweight champions, and it is the most commercially significant non-title fight the UFC has staged in years.
Event Details
| Date | Saturday, July 11, 2026 |
| Venue | T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Early Prelims | 5:00 PM ET — Paramount+ |
| Prelims | 7:00 PM ET — Paramount+ |
| Main Card | 9:00 PM ET — Paramount+ |
| International Fight Week | Hall of Fame Induction: July 9, 2026 |
The Main Event: McGregor vs Holloway 2
Conor McGregor (22-6) returns to the Octagon for the first time since his July 2021 leg fracture against Dustin Poirier. He is 1-3 since October 2018, with his last win a January 2020 TKO of Donald Cerrone. He enters as a significant underdog — McGregor opened at +195 to +240, the longest underdog price of his UFC career.
Max Holloway (27-9) enters as the -238 favorite. He has fought eight times since McGregor’s last UFC appearance, going 5-3 in that stretch. His wins include the BMF title against Justin Gaethje and a subsequent defense against Dustin Poirier. His losses came to Ilia Topuria (featherweight title), Alex Volkanovski (featherweight title), and Charles Oliveira. This fight is contested at welterweight — 170 pounds — marking Holloway’s debut in that division.
They previously fought at UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen in August 2013 at featherweight, early in both fighters’ UFC careers. McGregor won by unanimous decision. That was 13 years ago.
McGregor has confirmed his next fight date is already secured for April 2027, meaning this is the first fight in a two-fight commitment regardless of the result.
The Business Angle
This fight is not about rankings. McGregor is unranked at welterweight. Holloway is ranked 14th. There is no title implication. What this fight is about is the largest commercial event the UFC can stage under its new Paramount+ broadcast deal.
McGregor’s return — regardless of his current competitive standing — is the UFC’s biggest box office draw since his fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 in 2018. The promotion secured International Fight Week as the backdrop deliberately. Every sponsor, media partner, and affiliate revenue stream the UFC has runs through this event.
For a site covering the business of MMA, the number worth watching after July 11 is the Paramount+ subscriber bump from this card. That figure will be used in every future rights negotiation the promotion enters.
Full Fight Card
Main Card (Paramount+, 9:00 PM ET)
| Weight Class | Fighter | Fighter |
| Welterweight | Conor McGregor (22-6) | Max Holloway (27-9) |
| Lightweight | Benoit Saint Denis (17-3) | Paddy Pimblett (23-4) |
| Bantamweight | Cory Sandhagen (18-6) | Mario Bautista (17-3) |
| Flyweight | Brandon Royval | Lone’er Kavanagh |
| Lightweight | King Green | Terrance McKinney |
Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 7:00 PM ET)
| Weight Class | Fighter | Fighter |
| Light Heavyweight | Robert Whittaker | Nikita Krylov |
| Heavyweight | Gable Steveson (UFC debut) | Elisha Ellison |
| Bantamweight | Cody Garbrandt | Adrian Yañez |
| Featherweight | Luke Riley | Kai Kamaka III |
Fights to Watch Beyond the Main Event
Paddy Pimblett vs. Benoit Saint Denis is the co-main event and may be the most consequential fight on the card for the lightweight division. Saint Denis is -145, Pimblett +120. The winner is in line to face lightweight champion Justin Gaethje later in 2026.
Gable Steveson makes his UFC debut at heavyweight against Elisha Ellison. Steveson is a two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion and 2020 Olympic gold medalist. His transition to MMA has been closely watched. This is his first professional MMA fight.
Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista at bantamweight is a legitimate ranked fight between two of the division’s best. Sandhagen is -150, Bautista +125.
What Happens After July 11
McGregor has confirmed his next fight is booked for April 2027. That fight has not been announced. Win or lose on July 11, he fights again in nine months.
The broader UFC calendar continues with UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman on July 18 in Oklahoma City, followed by UFC 330: Makhachev vs. Machado Garry on August 15 in Philadelphia.
For more on how fighter pay works on cards like this one, see our complete UFC fighter pay guide at and our breakdown of Conor McGregor’s career earnings.
FAQ
When is UFC 329 McGregor vs Holloway 2?
UFC 329 takes place Saturday, July 11, 2026 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card starts at 9:00 PM ET on Paramount+. Prelims begin at 7:00 PM ET and early prelims at 5:00 PM ET, both on Paramount+.
Is McGregor vs Holloway 2 a title fight?
No. It is a non-title welterweight bout. McGregor is unranked at welterweight. Holloway is ranked 14th. There is no championship on the line.
Who is favored in McGregor vs Holloway 2?
Max Holloway opened as approximately a -400 favorite and has held between -238 and -300. McGregor is a +195 to +240 underdog — the longest underdog price of his UFC career.
When did McGregor and Holloway first fight?
McGregor and Holloway first fought in August 2013 at UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen at featherweight. McGregor won by unanimous decision, tearing his ACL during the fight. Both fighters were early in their UFC careers at the time.
Why has McGregor been out so long?
McGregor broke his leg in his July 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. He subsequently withdrew from UFC 303 in 2024 due to a broken toe. UFC 329 on July 11, 2026 marks his return — five years and one day after his last Octagon appearance.