A second fight between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway is being targeted for UFC 329 in Las Vegas on July 11, according to reports from veteran MMA journalist Ariel Helwani and several other outlets, with the bout expected to headline International Fight Week at the T-Mobile Arena. The speculation has been further fuelled by the EA Sports UFC 6 trailer, which featured a simulated version of the matchup, widely seen as one of the clearest indicators yet of the UFC’s plans, and a fight that has remained one of the most anticipated among fans since their first bout in 2013.The proposed fight would mark McGregor’s first appearance inside the Octagon since his TKO defeat to Dustin Poirier in July 2021, a bout that left him with a broken leg and extended his absence to nearly five years. McGregor, a former featherweight, lightweight and interim featherweight champion, has repeatedly been linked with comeback plans during that period, although negotiations and injuries have prevented previous returns from materialising. The closest he came to fighting again arrived in June 2024, when he withdrew from a scheduled bout against Michael Chandler after suffering a toe injury.
Holloway rematch moves back into focus
The current plan would see McGregor face Holloway in a rematch of their first meeting in Boston in 2013, when McGregor defeated the then-young Hawaiian by unanimous decision early in Holloway’s UFC career. At the time, Holloway was still establishing himself inside the promotion, while McGregor was beginning the run that would eventually turn him into one of the UFC’s biggest commercial stars. More than a decade later, both fighters return to the proposed rematch with very different résumés. Holloway is a former featherweight and BMF champion whose recent performances have kept him near the top of the division despite a lengthy career built around relentless striking volume and durability. His previous fight ended in defeat against Charles Oliveira in March, although he had entered that bout following a unanimous decision victory over Poirier, the same opponent who handed McGregor consecutive stoppage defeats in 2021. Before Oliveira’s win, reports had suggested the UFC intended to match McGregor against the winner of that fight for the BMF title, but Oliveira’s dominant grappling performance against Holloway created uncertainty around those plans. According to Helwani’s reporting, however, the UFC now intends to proceed with McGregor versus Holloway regardless. The matchup is already being framed as a striking-heavy contest built around two fighters known for pressure and volume on the feet, particularly given Holloway’s preference for extended exchanges and McGregor’s history as one of the promotion’s sharpest counter-strikers during his championship years.
UFC 6 trailer adds fuel to speculation
Discussion around the fight intensified further this week after EA Sports released the first gameplay trailer for UFC 6, the latest entry in its MMA gaming franchise scheduled for release on PlayStation and Xbox in June. The trailer opens with an extended simulated fight between Holloway and McGregor, a sequence many fans interpreted as another indication that the UFC expects the real-life matchup to headline UFC 329. In the footage, Holloway drops and finishes an animated version of McGregor with a boxing combination, effectively reversing the result of their first meeting. The trailer later shifts to Alex Pereira defeating Ciryl Gane after initially being placed under pressure, with commentator Jon Anik calling the finishing sequence.
UFC 6 Trailer Gameplay
Other clips in the trailer show Ilia Topuria landing combinations against Justin Gaethje, Paddy Pimblett and Arman Tsarukyan, while Khabib Nurmagomedov also appears during the promotional footage. EA Sports confirmed Pereira and Holloway as the cover athletes for the game’s standard and ultimate editions. “Former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and former UFC featherweight and BMF champion Max Holloway headline the Standard and Ultimate Edition covers, ushering in a new era of fighter individuality appearing in gameplay, allowing players to fight their fight like never before,” the company said in a statement. “This year’s cover athletes showcase a modern standard for elite UFC superstardom. Alex Pereira brings his signature blend of precision and raw power to the Standard Edition cover, while Max Holloway’s relentless pace and unmatched volume come alive on the Ultimate Edition. Their presence on the covers reflects a new era for the franchise where every athlete’s unique movement and mindset are felt in every exchange.”
Holloway acknowledges speculation surrounding McGregor fight
Holloway addressed the rumours himself during an appearance with UFC on Paramount, where he acknowledged the growing speculation around the proposed July matchup while stopping short of confirming that contracts had been signed. “I’m seeing all the talk that you guys are seeing, I haven’t really heard anything yet, but that wouldn’t be a bad time,” Holloway said. “We have history, we fought a very long time ago and I told you guys, if someone gets one over me, I wanna get them back.” The former BMF champion, who has often described himself as an avid gamer, also spoke about appearing on the UFC 6 cover after previously using combinations from earlier UFC games during training sessions at the beginning of his MMA career. “It means a lot, man, I’m a gamer and as a kid, you saw covers of any video game and with me having history with the UFC game… It’s crazy man, to be here, to be on the cover, you dream of this as a kid,” he said. Holloway then returned to the subject of McGregor’s comeback. “I’d love to get him back, him having all this talk of coming back and everyone talking about how serious he actually looks, he looks like he’s actually training and taking it and really wanting to come back to fight, it’s exciting,” Holloway said. “He looks hungrier, he looks super hungry… I have to get my get back.” If finalised, the fight would place one of the UFC’s most recognisable former champions opposite one of the promotion’s most durable long-term contenders during the organisation’s biggest annual showcase week in Las Vegas, more than 13 years after their first meeting in Boston.
