Conor McGregor’s expected UFC return may come against Max Holloway, with veteran MMA reporter Ariel Helwani saying on his show that the former two-division champion is being lined up to face Holloway next.
A blockbuster rematch between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway is being targeted for UFC 330 on July 11 in Las Vegas, according to veteran MMA journalist Ariel Helwani. The proposed fight would mark McGregor’s first UFC appearance in nearly five years and revive one of the promotion’s most intriguing early-career matchups.
The timing alone makes this a major story. McGregor has not fought since July 2021, when he suffered a severe leg injury in his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. In today’s UFC, where activity often determines title relevance, a return straight into a high-profile fight against Holloway suggests the promotion still sees McGregor as one of its biggest business drivers.
Helwani reported that this matchup is currently the leading option for McGregor’s comeback, while Jorge Masvidal is no longer in the mix as a possible opponent. For Holloway, the fight offers a chance at long-awaited revenge after losing to McGregor by unanimous decision in their first meeting back in 2013.
The stakes go beyond nostalgia. If McGregor wins, he immediately re-enters the conversation as a marquee contender and restores momentum that has been missing for years. If Holloway gets the win, he strengthens his case as one of the sport’s most durable elite names while adding a signature victory over the biggest star of his era.
American fans will see this as more than a comeback booking. It is a test of whether McGregor can still perform at an elite level after inactivity and injury, and whether Holloway can turn an old loss into a career-defining result. Las Vegas is the natural setting for that kind of event: big-fight city, major spotlight, and a crowd built for spectacle.
Now the focus shifts to whether the UFC makes it official — and whether McGregor’s long-awaited return finally happens against a former rival with plenty to gain.
