Conor McGregor linked to UFC 329

Audie Attar said on May 24 that Conor McGregor’s team pushed for Michael Chandler as McGregor’s comeback opponent, but that matchup “didn’t come together” for UFC 329 in July. Attar, McGregor’s longtime manager, told MMA Junkie the preference from their side was to revive the Chandler fight that had previously been booked for UFC 303 before McGregor withdrew in 2024. UFC, however, is no longer treating McGregor’s return as a rumor. The promotion has published McGregor vs. Max Holloway as the main event of UFC 329 on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and its ticketing and event pages list the bout as part of International Fight Week. (mmajunkie.usatoday.com) ### Why was Michael Chandler not the opponent? Audie Attar said the McGregor camp made a “big push” for Chandler, according to MMA Junkie, but the UFC “wasn’t interested in the rebooking” despite the promotional buildup around that matchup. The Chandler fight had been set for UFC 303 in June 2024 before McGregor pulled out because of injury. (ufc.com) That account matters because Chandler had long been framed as the most direct comeback option. McGregor and Chandler coached opposite each other on *The Ultimate Fighter*, and the pairing had already been marketed once before it fell apart. MMA Junkie’s May 24 report said Attar tied the failure to make the fight to the UFC’s position, not to a lack of interest from McGregor’s side. (mmajunkie.usatoday.com) ### So is the Holloway fight merely “linked,” or already on the books? UFC’s own materials show the bout as official. A UFC news post published last week said McGregor would return against Holloway in the main event of UFC 329 in Las Vegas on July 11, and UFC’s event and ticket pages also list “McGregor vs Holloway” for that date. (mmajunkie.usatoday.com) MMA Junkie separately reported on May 16 that McGregor’s return against Holloway had been made official. That means Attar’s May 24 comments add context about how the opponent was chosen, rather than newly creating the matchup. (ufc.com) ### Why is Holloway the notable name here? Max Holloway is not a random late replacement. McGregor beat Holloway earlier in both men’s UFC runs, and the July 11 fight is being billed by UFC as a rematch more than a decade later. UFC’s announcement said McGregor has not fought since July 2021, when he suffered a leg injury in his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier. (mmajunkie.usatoday.com) MMA Junkie reported on May 6 that Holloway had publicly acknowledged the McGregor rumors and said getting one back would be appealing because of their history. ### What does this clarify about McGregor’s return timeline? (jp.ufc.com) July 11 is the key date. UFC 329 is scheduled for T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas during International Fight Week, and McGregor is listed atop the card after a layoff that will have stretched about five years by fight night. (mmajunkie.usatoday.com) Las Vegas is also where the promotion has centered its rollout. UFC’s event pages list the location, date and card placement, while McGregor’s fighter page now shows an upcoming fight against Holloway in July. ### What happens next before July 11? UFC 329 is the next concrete milestone. UFC’s published card already includes McGregor vs. (ufc.com) Holloway in the main event and lists other bouts beneath it, including Robert Whittaker vs. Nikita Krylov. Attar’s May 24 comments leave Chandler as the preferred option that did not materialize, but the promotion’s own schedule now points to Holloway in Las Vegas on July 11 as McGregor’s next fight. (ufc.com) (mmajunkie.usatoday.com) (kr.ufc.com)