UFC 329: McGregor vs. Holloway 2 Heads International Fight Week

UFC 329 takes place on Saturday, 11th July 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with Conor McGregor returning after a five-year layoff to face Max Holloway in a welterweight rematch. The card sits at the center of International Fight Week and has the kind of depth that makes it feel like a true blockbuster.

Main Event

Conor McGregor’s return is the biggest story on the card. After a long absence following his 2021 leg injury, he comes back for a major welterweight clash against Max Holloway, a former featherweight champion and BMF titleholder.

The matchup carries history because the two first met in 2013, and both fighters have taken very different paths since then. McGregor brings star power and massive intrigue, while Holloway brings consistency, volume, and the kind of championship-level toughness that can make a return fight uncomfortable.

Co-Main Event

Benoît Saint Denis vs. Paddy Pimblett is one of the most interesting supporting bouts on the card. It pairs two rising names in the lightweight division, and the winner could take a significant step forward in the rankings conversation.

That fight also adds international flavor to the top of the card. Between McGregor, Holloway, Saint Denis, and Pimblett, the main card has strong name recognition and clear fan interest.

Main Card Depth

The main card also includes Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista at bantamweight, Brandon Royval vs. Lone’er Kavanagh at flyweight, and King Green vs. Terrance McKinney at lightweight. Those bouts give the PPV strong stylistic variety and enough quality to support the headliners.

It is the kind of lineup that balances star power with serious competitive matchups. That matters for a card this big, because it needs more than one attraction to hold attention through the night.

Preliminary Card

The prelims are unusually strong for a major PPV. Robert Whittaker makes his light heavyweight debut against Nikita Krylov, which is one of the most eye-catching booking decisions on the entire event.

Gable Steveson makes his UFC promotional debut at heavyweight against Elisha Ellison, adding another storyline outside the title picture. The rest of the prelims include Cody Garbrandt vs. Adrian Yanez, Luke Riley vs. Kai Kamaka III, Farid Basharat vs. John Garza, Cody Durden vs. Alessandro Costa, and Tracy Cortez vs. Wang Cong.

Final Outlook

UFC 329 has the feel of one of the biggest cards of the year because of McGregor’s return alone, but the supporting fights make it even stronger. Holloway gives the main event real sporting credibility, and the rest of the lineup is loaded with recognizable names and meaningful matchups.

If McGregor comes back sharp, the event becomes a massive comeback story. If Holloway disrupts that return, UFC 329 could produce one of the most memorable results of the year.