UFC 329. Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway 2: The Rematch 13 Years in the Making

Las Vegas, July 11 2026

Five years. 1,827 days. One broken leg.

And now, it’s finally happening. Conor McGregor is back — and the man welcoming him is the same one he beat 13 years ago: Max "Blessed" Holloway.

This is UFC 329. This is International Fight Week. This is welterweight.

The Story: From Boston 2013 to Vegas 2026

They first met on August 2013 at UFC Fight Night in Boston.

Both were 21 and 25 year-old featherweights. McGregor won by unanimous decision 30-27, 30-27, 30-26, despite fighting with a torn ACL. 95e1d3d0

Fast forward 13 years and both are completely different fighters.

- McGregor, 37: First fight since snapping his leg vs Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in Jul- y 2021. He hasn’t won since KO’ing Donald Cerrone in Jan 2020. He also pulled out of a scheduled 2024 return vs Michael Chandler due to a toe injury.

- Holloway, 34: Still elite. Former featherweight champ, former BMF champ. Coming off a loss to Charles Oliveira in March, but owns the KO of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 with 1 second left. cc4a1bbe95e16fd7

Now they meet again, but at welterweight 170lbs. 1ab4

What’s At Stake

For McGregor: This is legacy. It’s his first fight in 5 years and he called it an “absolute demolition”.

> “I know the damage he's taken. I know I will just have to touch him, and after that, it will be clinical” 9ee3d049

He’s also coming off civil liability for assault in Dublin in 2018 and lost his appeal in Nov 2024. He’s said he hit “rock bottom” and now wants to prove he’s still “The Notorious”. cc4a9ee31bbe

For Holloway: This is about proving time hasn’t passed him. Analysts have Holloway as the clear favorite, with one prediction calling it a “club-and-sub style win in Round 3”.

Holloway has improved massively since 2013 — double-hand traps, clinch frames, and elite cardio.

The Beef Is Real

They faced off Thursday and it got tense. McGregor ripped Holloway’s sunglasses off and threw them, then put his forehead on Holloway’s. Security and Dana White had to separate them. 1bbe9ee3

McGregor: “I want the smoke... I don't rate them. (They’re) not on my level” d049

UFC 329 Fight Details

- Date: Saturday July 11, 2026

- Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas ∼20,000 fans

- Weight: Welterweight

- Main Card: 9pm ET / 6pm PT. Cage walks ∼11pm ET / 4am BST

- How to Watch:

- US: Paramount+

- UK: TNT Sports Box Office, Prime Video £19.99

- Australia: Main Event on Kayo

Full Main Card:

1. MAIN EVENT: Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway - Welterweight

2. Paddy Pimblett vs Benoit Saint Denis - Lightweight

3. Cory Sandhagen vs Mario Bautista - Bantamweight

4. Brandon Royval vs Lone’er Kavanagh - Flyweight

5. King Green vs Terrance McKinney - Lightweight 1ab4

Backup fighter: Mauricio Ruffy will be in Vegas in case of injury. 6e5e

The Big Question

Does McGregor still have it?

Analysts aren’t sure. Even a “fresh, relatively athletically prime McGregor” would struggle with this version of Holloway. And this fight is at 170, where Holloway has “more than enough in his proverbial tank”. f01e

But this is Conor. The first UFC fighter to hold 2 belts at the same time. The box office king. UFC 329 is expected to break the promotion’s all-time gate record of $21.8M. 95e19a9f

Final Word

13 years ago it was a prelim. Now it’s the main event of International Fight Week.

One last run for Mystic Mac. One chance for Blessed to avenge and remind everyone why he’s one of the best ever. 95e1

Prediction from analysts: Holloway inside the distance

McGregor’s prediction: “Absolute demolition” f01ed049

July 11. Vegas. Don’t blink.