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Conor McGregor is set to return to the UFC after five years away from competition, with the Irish mixed martial arts star scheduled to face Max Holloway at UFC 329. The event will be broadcast on S Sport Plus on Sunday, July 12, at 4 a.m., with both live coverage and replay viewing available.
McGregor, a former champion in two UFC weight divisions, will step back into the cage against Holloway, a former featherweight and BMF champion. The matchup carries extra attention because the two fighters met 13 years ago, when both were still early in their careers, and McGregor won that first encounter.
McGregor last fought in 2021, when he suffered a serious injury against Dustin Poirier. Since then, his return has been closely followed by UFC fans, and UFC 329 will mark his first fight since that long absence.
His career first broke out in 2013, when he knocked out Marcus Brimage in just 67 seconds in his UFC debut. Two years later, he stopped Jose Aldo in 13 seconds to win the featherweight title and set the record for the fastest finish in a UFC title fight.
McGregor then moved up to lightweight and defeated Eddie Alvarez in 2016, becoming champion in two divisions at the same time. His return at UFC 329 is presented as a chance to open a new chapter in his career and start another push toward the top.
Holloway also brings a major UFC resume into the fight. After losing to McGregor early in his career, he went on a 13-fight winning streak and climbed to the top of the featherweight division.
In 2017, Holloway defeated Jose Aldo in a title unification fight to become featherweight champion. He later defended the belt against Aldo, Brian Ortega and Frankie Edgar, holding the title for two and a half years.
Holloway also produced one of the most memorable moments in UFC history in 2024, when he called Justin Gaethje to the center in the final seconds of their BMF title fight and knocked him out with a punch. He also holds featherweight records for wins, finishes, and knockouts, while earning multiple Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night awards.
The McGregor-Holloway rematch is expected to be the central draw of UFC 329, bringing together two of the most recognizable names in modern mixed martial arts.
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