The UFC confirmed this Saturday (16) the long-awaited return of Conor McGregor to the Octagon. Out of the organization since 2021, the Irishman will face Max Holloway in the main fight of UFC 329, scheduled for July 11, in Las Vegas, United States. The fight will be held in the welterweight category during the traditional International Fight Week.
McGregor’s return ends a period without acting in Ultimate. His last appearance took place in July 2021, when he suffered a defeat to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264, in a fight that ended with a serious injury to the Irishman’s left leg. Since then, the former champion has been away from competitions and has accumulated controversial episodes outside the sport, including one.
The duel against Holloway will mark a historic rematch in the UFC. The first meeting between the two took place in August 2013, at the beginning of McGregor’s career in the organization. On that occasion, the Irishman won by unanimous decision in a lightweight fight. That was only “The Notorious”’s second fight in Ultimate.
McGregor built one of the most remarkable careers in recent UFC history. Between 2013 and 2018, the fighter scored seven consecutive victories in his first appearances in the company, including the knockout over José Aldo in 2015, which won him the featherweight belt in just 13 seconds, remaining to this day the fastest knockout in title fights in the organization.
The following year, the Irishman defeated Eddie Alvarez and became the first athlete in UFC history to simultaneously win two belts in different categories, accumulating the featherweight and lightweight titles.
Before that, McGregor also starred in two high-profile fights against Nate Diaz at welterweight, with one loss and one victory in the rivalry.
Now, at 37 years old, the Irish MMA fighter is trying to regain space in a different division from the one in which he built his greatest achievements, facing Holloway, former featherweight champion and one of the most popular names in the organization.
