Conor McGregor is a former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion
Conor 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 indefeat by Dustin Poirierin 2021.
He was scheduled to return againstAmerican Michael Chandlerin 2024. 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.
Liverpudlian Paddy Pimblett will also fight at UFC 329 at the T-Mobile Arena. taking on Frenchman Benoit Saint-Denis in his first bout sincelosing to Justin Gaethjein January.
Also in action is Britishflyweight Lone'er Kavanaghwho faces Brandon Royval. the unbeaten Luke Riley who fights Kai Kamaka at featherweight.
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. six defeats since making his debut in 2008.
McGregor was the UFC's first simultaneous two-weight world champion after winning titles at featherweight in 2015. lightweight in 2016, but his career has been dogged by controversy in recent years.
Last yearhe accepted an 18-month banfor 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 third missed test in September 2024, concluded in March.
McGregor has beentested eleven times,externalby Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) this year. which is more than any other fighter on the UFC's roster.
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In November 2024. McGregor wasordered to pay £206,000 in damagesplus costs to Nikita Hand, who accused him of raping her in a hotel in Dublin in 2018.
Ms Hand announced in August herintention to sue McGregorand 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. staff.
A year later he was convicted. 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. 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.
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