McGregor to fight Holloway in UFC return in July

Breaking news from the world of sport: McGregor to fight Holloway in UFC return in JulyImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Conor McGregor is a former UFC featherweight and lightweight championPublished10 minutes agoConor McGregor will return to action for the first time in five years when he faces Max Holloway in a welterweight bout at UFC 329 in Las Vegas on 11 July. The 37-year-old Irishman has not fought since breaking his leg in defeat by Dustin Poirier in 2021. He was scheduled to return against American Michael Chandler in 2024 but pulled out just over two weeks prior to the bout after breaking his toe.

The fight with Holloway is a rematch of their featherweight bout in 2013, which McGregor won on points. Holloway, 34, is a difficult return opponent for McGregor as the Hawaiian has consistently competed at the highest level at lightweight in recent years. One of the biggest MMA stars in history, McGregor has 22 wins and six defeats since making his debut in 2008.

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McGregor was the UFC's first simultaneous two-weight world champion after winning titles at featherweight in 2015 and lightweight in 2016 but his career has been dogged by controversy in recent years. Last year he accepted an 18-month ban for violating the UFC's anti-doping policy after missing three drugs tests within a 12-month period in 2024. The ban, which was backdated to the date of the third missed test in September 2024, concluded in March.

McGregor has been tested eleven times, external by Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) this year, which is more than any other fighter on the UFC's roster. In November 2024, McGregor was ordered to pay £206,000 in damages plus costs to Nikita Hand, who accused him of raping her in a hotel in Dublin in 2018. Ms Hand announced in August her intention to sue McGregor and two other people for damages, alleging they engaged in malicious abuse of court processes.

Previously in 2018, McGregor was arrested in New York for throwing a metal dolly at the window of a bus carrying UFC fighters and staff. A year later he was convicted and fined €1,000 (£850) for punching a man who rejected his offer of a drink in a Dublin pub. McGregor rose to fame after winning his first five fights in the UFC, with his brash and witty personality captivating fans.

He beat Chad Mendes for the interim featherweight title in 2015 before knocking out Jose Aldo for the undisputed belt five months later in only 13 seconds - the fastest finish in UFC title fight history. After becoming a double champion in 2016, McGregor faced Floyd Mayweather the following year in a lucrative boxing bout, before defeat by Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018 in the biggest-selling UFC pay-per-view of all time. He beat Donald Cerrone two years later but that triumph remains his only win in the last 10 years.

The story has climbed to the top of the sports agenda, with fans and analysts following closely.