A deal between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway is expected to be finalized for Ufc 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas, Nevada, over the next week, putting a long-awaited rematch on the brink of becoming official. McGregor’s return fight could be announced at any point during that window.
The matchup would bring together two of the UFC’s biggest names nearly five years after McGregor last fought, in July 2021. Holloway would be entering welterweight for the first time, with the bout expected to be held at 170 pounds, according to a report. Holloway moved up to lightweight last year and has posted a 1-1 record at the weight.
The timing gives the fight added weight. Earlier this week, Ariel Helwani said the rematch was “on the goal line,” and the latest report suggests that line is close to being crossed. If finalized, McGregor vs. Holloway 2 would likely headline UFC’s International Fight Week this July, giving the promotion a marquee main event built around two former champions with unfinished business.
The hold-up is not only about the fighters, but also about format. McGregor’s team is still pushing for the return bout to be three rounds instead of five, even though UFC main events are usually five rounds and rarely deviate from that standard. The same camp also wanted a three-round fight for McGregor’s bout against Michael Chandler, underscoring how much the structure of his return remains part of the negotiation.
Holloway arrives with recent momentum and recent disappointment. He most recently lost his BMF title to Charles Oliveira at Ufc 326, and a move to welterweight would mark a new chapter after his year at lightweight. For McGregor, the fight would end the longest absence of his UFC career and finally put him back in the cage after nearly four years away.
What happens next is straightforward: the deal is expected to be finalized over the next week, and McGregor’s return fight could become official at any point before July 11. If that happens, UFC 329 will not just be another card in Las Vegas. It will be the moment a delayed rematch finally leaves the negotiation table and becomes a real event.
