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Conor McGregor to make blockbuster UFC comeback against old rival after five-year absence

Conor McGregors long-awaited return to UFC is finally set to be upon us as the Irishmans comeback has officially been announced after a five-year absence

[Conor McGregor]

Conor McGregor's return to UFC has been confirmed

Conor McGregor is finally set to return to UFC after a five-year absence, with his comeback officially announced for this summer.

The Irishman, 37, has not fought since breaking his leg in defeat to Justin Poirier in 2021. He was scheduled to return against American Michael Chandler in 2024 but pulled out just weeks before the bout after breaking his toe.

But now McGregors layoff is due to end on July 11 in the main event of UFC 329 in Las Vegas. McGregor will face former featherweight rival Max Holloway, 34, in a welterweight rematch of their 2013 bout, which Notorious won on points.

[Conor McGregor]

Conor McGregor is set to make his UFC return(Image: Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

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The two first faced off in August 2013 with McGregor winning via unanimous decision despite tearing his ACL in the second round.

Since that clash, both fighters rose to international stardom and both have claimed the featherweight title against Hall of Famer Jose Aldo.

Holloway has consistently fought at lightweight and is looking to return to winning ways after losing his BMF title fight to Charles Oliveira in March.

[Conor McGregor]

'Notorious' will end his UFC layoff in July(Image: NBAE via Getty Images)

[McGregor and Holloway famously fought back in 2013]

McGregor and Holloway famously fought back in 2013(Image: Getty Images)

Last October, McGregor accepted an 18-month doping ban, backdated to September 2024, for three failures of the whereabouts system, but he is now eligible to compete again.

Paddy Pimblett is also due to fight on the card at the T-Mobile Arena, where the Liverpudlian will take on Frenchman Benoit Saint-Denis in his first fight since defeat against Justin Gaethje in January.

Olympic gold medallist Gable Steveson will make his hotly anticipated debut in UFC against Elisha Ellison.

[Max Holloway]

Max Holloway suffered defeat against Charles Oliveira in his last bout(Image: Zuffa LLC)

Another Brit in action is flyweight Loneer Kavanagh who takes on Brandon Royval. While the unbeaten Luke Riley fights Kai Kamaka at featherweight.

McGregors return to the octagon will be his first since he was found liable for sexually assaulting Nikita Hand in Dublin in December 2018.

The matter was dealt with in civil court in November 2024, following which he was ditched by countless sponsors and witnessed his public standing nosedive.

Despite repeated attempts to challenge the verdict, McGregor's efforts ultimately concluded in December 2025 when the Supreme Court ruled that his case had received fair consideration.

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