Conor’s Return & Opponent Reportedly Revealed

As rumors heat up that Conor McGregor (22-6) will return to the Octagon at the culmination of International Fight Week on July 11, 2026, MMA journalist Ariel Helwani is reporting that not only has that date been confirmed, but his opponent is set as well and will be Conor’s former foe, Max Holloway(27-9).

McGregor and Holloway first met in August 2013 when Max was just 21-years-old and Conor was 25. While McGregor suffered a torn ACL, the Irishman earned a unanimous decision victory. Their first meeting was at featherweight, but the rematch is expected to take place at lightweight, though Holloway has hinted at being open to a welterweight clash.

Conor has not competed since his July 2021 TKO loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264, where he suffered a broken leg in the first round, so if he does return on July 11, it will be 5-years and a day since he was last seen in the Octagon. Meanwhile, Holloway is coming off losing his BMF belt on March 8 to Charles Oliveira via a unanimous decision defeat.