Conor McGregor Returns Five Years After Leg Injury

Conor McGregor is scheduled to return to the UFC Octagon on July 11, 2026, in a main event rematch against Max Holloway. The bout will take place in Las Vegas as part of the UFC 329 event during International Fight Week.

This appearance marks the first time McGregor has competed in five years. His previous outing occurred in July 2021, during a trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier, which ended when McGregor suffered a leg injury at the conclusion of the first round.

The upcoming fight serves as a rematch of a contest that took place nearly 13 years prior. McGregor and Holloway first faced each other in August 2013, a match that resulted in a unanimous decision victory for McGregor.

Leading up to the event, McGregor has expressed confidence in his current form, claiming he is better than ever.

McGregor’s return follows years of anticipation, during which he served as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter and frequently signaled his intention to compete again through social media and interviews.

The fighter previously established himself as a significant figure in the promotion through a series of high-profile performances. In 2016, McGregor became the first fighter in the history of the UFC to hold championships in two weight divisions at the same time.

He secured the featherweight title at UFC 194 by defeating José Aldo in 13 seconds. Less than a year later, on November 12, 2016, he added the lightweight championship to his collection by stopping Eddie Alvarez in the second round at UFC 205 in New York City.

McGregor’s career has also been marked by high-profile diversions and rivalries. He took a two-year hiatus from mixed martial arts to participate in a boxing match against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Following that boxing match, he returned to the UFC for a bout against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229, an event that became one of the largest in the promotion’s history.

The July 11 match against Holloway is positioned as a return to the Octagon for a fighter described as the biggest star in the history of the promotion, driven by a reputation for confidence and show-stopping performances.