Dana White gives positive update on Conor McGregor’s UFC return with Max Holloway already training for rematch

Dana White has declared Conor McGregor’s UFC return is ‘looking good’ with Max Holloway currently his most likely opponent.

McGregor hasn’t fought since July 2021 but has repeatedly teased his comeback over the years, and it is expected he will make a grand fighting comeback this summer.

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The 37-year-old was once the hot favourite to headline the UFC’s White House card in June.

However, when the UFC opted for a lightweight title bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje instead, McGregor was soon favoured to feature on the promotion’s international fight week card, UFC 329.

It has since emerged that McGregor was likely reserved for a normal numbered card instead, as the celebratory White House event won’t generate any profit for the UFC.

Paddy Pimblett has already revealed that he will feature at UFC 329 on July 11, while new UFC heavyweight signing Gable Steveson is the only fighter to be confirmed for it thus far.

Although not specifically on McGregor featuring in the summer show, White was asked for an update on the Irishman’s return this past weekend.

“It’s looking good,” White told the media at the post-fight press conference for UFC Winnipeg, where veteran Gilbert Burns retired after suffering his fifth consecutive defeat.

“Believe me, you know once we get a deal done with him, we will announce it.”

Who is McGregor going to fight?

Former BMF champion and featherweight king Holloway is reportedly the frontrunner to welcome McGregor back to the UFC.

Holloway, who lost to Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 326 last time out, has even told friend and MMA legend Daniel Cormier that he’s training right now for what would be a rematch of his 2013 loss against McGregor.

“I talked to Max Holloway the other day,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel last week.

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“Just honestly having a real conversation about what he thought his future looks like…

“I asked him if he could ever have imagined that losing the BMF title would put you close to the Conor McGregor fight.

“Max said to me, ‘I am training right now because it’s all I want. It’s all I want with my career if I get the opportunity to face McGregor in his return fight.’

“It’s what he wants because he feels he’s earned it. Max has put a lot of work in for the company.

“Max has put a lot of work in for the fans, and Max deserves an opportunity to try to right something that he feels was done so wrong so many years ago.”

Nate Diaz said he was offered a trilogy fight against McGregor if he made his UFC return, but ‘The Stockton Slugger’ has since decided to sign for Jake Paul‘s Most Valuable Promotions.

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Diaz now fights Mike Perry on Netflix’s first-ever MMA show, which he says was his preferred move, as ‘Platinum’ is a higher-level opponent.

Michael Chandler was also rumoured to be McGregor’s comeback opponent for years due to the pair’s history on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF).

Both men coached against one another on TUF 31, and a scheduled bout to conclude the season collapsed in the summer of 2024 when McGregor injured his toe.

Chandler, however, still got his dream fight on the South Lawn of the White House and faces Mauricio Ruffy at lightweight on the UFC Freedom 250 bill.

UFC Schedule

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