Conor McGregor to make UFC comeback alongside Paddy Pimblett as Dana White makes huge announcement
Conor McGregor will make his UFC return during International Fight Week on July 11.
The 37-year-old, who hasn’t fought since July 2021, has been booked to face Max Holloway at UFC 329 in a rematch of the pair’s 2013 bout in Boston, which McGregor won on points.
UFC CEO Dana White made the announcement via Instagram on Saturday night during his promotion’s latest Fight Night card in Las Vegas.
“I’m gonna son you, child. Again,” McGregor wrote on X in response to a video of Holloway promoting the fight.
He later followed up with a warning for Holloway, who lost his BMF title to Charles Oliveira last time out at UFC 326.
McGregor said: “You’re gonna put respect on my motherf***ing name.”
Return of the Mac
The Irishman suffered his second consecutive defeat to the now-retired Dustin Poirier the last time he entered the Octagon.
He has since put his energy elsewhere, launching new business ventures while becoming the co-owner of the fledgling bare-knuckle league BKFC.
Having reentered the UFC’s anti-doping pool last July, and after years of rumours and a cancelled comeback bout against Michael Chandler, McGregor is now back.
He features on a stacked UFC 329 card, part of the promotion’s annual International Fight Week, on July 11.
The Las Vegas show also includes Paddy Pimblett, who returns to the UFC for the first time since suffering his first promotional defeat to Justin Gaethje in January.
Pimblett faces hard-hitting, ex-military Frenchman Benoit Saint Denis in the co-main event on the night to decide who will go on to challenge for lightweight gold.
Furthermore, exciting, young heavyweight prospect Gable Steveson makes his debut at UFC 329 against fellow American Elisha Ellison.
Steveson, a training partner and protege of UFC legend Jon Jones, has torn through the regional scenes, scoring multiple first-round knockouts.
The two-time Olympic gold medallist has received a great deal of praise from MMA enthusiasts, including Joe Rogan, and is expected to challenge for the UFC heavyweight title in the not-too-distant future
Also on the card, Cory Sandhagen takes on Mario Bautista at bantamweight and Briton Lone’er Kavanagh faces Brandon Royval.
McGregor, meanwhile, has his eyes set on becoming the first athlete to hold titles across three divisions in the UFC.
He won his first undisputed title by famously knocking out Jose Aldo in 2015 and became the UFC’s first-ever double champion the following year.
McGregor, of course, has fought at welterweight twice in his career, trading wins with Nate Diaz in 2016, either side of his win over Aldo and later Eddie Alvarez, which gave him his second title.
The Irishman then contested a historic crossover boxing clash with Floyd Mayweather, before returning to the UFC in October 2018 to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov.
McGregor’s last win in the UFC came against Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone in January 2020.
He stopped Cerrone just 40 seconds into the first round after a head kick and barrage of punches.
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