McGregor's five-year wait ends at UFC 329

Fight week belongs to Conor McGregor, who returns Saturday at UFC 329 against Max Holloway after five years out — his first bout since the 2021 leg break. Away from the marquee, the matchmakers stayed busy: Dricus du Plessis finally landed Kamaru Usman, Marlon Vera drew a lifeline at UFC 331, and title fights loomed at ONE and on the RAF wrestling mats. Dustin Poirier, meanwhile, faced the fallout of an airport arrest and spoke openly about depression.

McGregor returns Saturday to rematch Holloway at UFC 329

Conor McGregor headlines UFC 329 on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena, facing Max Holloway in a welterweight rematch 13 years after McGregor won their 2013 featherweight bout by decision. It is McGregor's first fight since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021; a 2024 booking against Michael Chandler collapsed when he broke a toe, footage of which the UFC aired on Countdown. Holloway, coming off a decision loss of the BMF belt to Charles Oliveira, is the betting favorite, though heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall picked a first-round McGregor knockout. Weigh-ins air live on CBS on July 10 with the card streaming on Paramount+.

Why it matters: The UFC's biggest draw returning after a five-year layoff at 37, two weight classes above the original meeting, is the promotion's marquee gamble of the year — and a real test of whether McGregor is anything close to the fighter he was.

Poirier addresses airport arrest, opens up on depression and a possible return

Dustin Poirier gave his first interview since his June 21 arrest for public drunkenness at the Atlanta airport, where body-cam footage showed him threatening a police officer. Poirier apologized to airport staff and police, said he still refuses to watch the video, and disclosed a long battle with depression tied to his alcoholic, now-homeless father, adding that the arrest has already cost him sponsorships. He also revealed that brain scarring and behavioral changes flagged by his wife and neurologists factored into his 2025 retirement, yet said he remains under UFC contract and would return for the right fight — naming a fourth bout with McGregor or a long-sought clash with Nate Diaz. Sean Strickland drew backlash by telling Poirier he is 'not allowed to be depressed.'

Why it matters: One of the era's most respected lightweights airing a public reckoning with mental health, CTE fears and a possible comeback is a sobering counterweight to fight-week hype — and Strickland's response reopened the sport's uglier debate around it.

Du Plessis lands Usman at UFC Oklahoma City after tough negotiation

The UFC finally made Dricus du Plessis vs. Kamaru Usman official as the July 18 UFC Oklahoma City main event, and du Plessis claims Usman had to be talked into signing: 'They said, We finally convinced him to sign.' It marks du Plessis' first fight since losing the middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 in August, while Usman moves back up to 185 pounds after dropping a close decision to Chimaev in his only prior middleweight outing. Du Plessis cited teammate Justin Gaethje's recent win over Ilia Topuria as reason not to write off the 39-year-old former welterweight king.

Why it matters: A win puts du Plessis back in the middleweight title picture against Chimaev, and pairing him with an all-time welterweight in Usman is the highest-stakes non-title bout the division has on the calendar.

Pacio defends ONE strawweight title against Malachiev in Bangkok

ONE strawweight champion Joshua Pacio rematches Mansur Malachiev in the main event of The Inner Circle 21 on Friday, July 10, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok. Pacio won their first meeting by unanimous decision at ONE Fight Night 15 in October 2023 — a result Malachiev still disputes, citing a leg injury and short camp. The Dagestani challenger has since beaten Bokang Masunyane, Yosuke Saruta and former champ Jarred Brooks (via north-south choke) to earn the rematch, and plans to lean on his wrestling against the wushu-bred striker.

Why it matters: A healthy Malachiev on a three-fight tear is a legitimate threat to one of ONE's longest-tenured champions, and the outcome reshapes a strawweight division built around this rivalry.

Vera faces Jourdain at UFC 331 with his roster spot on the line

No. 10 bantamweight Marlon Vera meets Charles Jourdain at UFC 331 on Sept. 19, per Vera's management. Vera (23-12-1) is on a four-fight losing streak — all decisions, to Sean O'Malley, Deiveson Figueiredo, Aiemann Zahabi and David Martinez — and hasn't won since UFC 292 in 2023. Jourdain (18-8-1) has won all three of his fights since dropping to bantamweight, earning bonuses in each, and a win would push him into the divisional top 15. UFC 331 is rumored for the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

Why it matters: It's a genuine crossroads bout: a former title challenger fighting to keep his ranking against a surging contender trying to break in, with real stakes for both at 135.

Dvalishvili and Cejudo run it back on the mats at RAF Georgia

UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili headlines RAF Georgia on July 11 in his native Tbilisi, facing Henry Cejudo in a wrestling match — their first meeting since Dvalishvili beat Cejudo at UFC 298 in February 2024. The co-main pits Olympic champion Kyle Snyder against longtime rival Abdulrashid Sadulaev for the RAF light heavyweight title, with a card also featuring Arman Tsarukyan, Kyle Dake and Helen Maroulis. It streams on Fox Nation at 12 p.m. ET.

Why it matters: The RAF wrestling circuit keeps pulling in crossover MMA names, and seeing Dvalishvili and Cejudo compete outside the cage is a rare novelty for fans of both sports.

Also worth a look

Browse previous days →