McGregor returns after five years to face Holloway

International Fight Week is all about one man: Conor McGregor makes his first walk to the Octagon in five years Saturday, rematching Max Holloway atop UFC 329. The undercard and the weeks ahead offer more substance — Pimblett vs. Saint-Denis in the co-main, plus freshly booked cards in Philadelphia, Sacramento and Shanghai — while Sean Strickland's ugly Dustin Poirier feud ended in a rare apology.

McGregor-Holloway 2 headlines UFC 329, 13 years in the making

Conor McGregor (22-6) returns from a five-year layoff Saturday, July 11 at T-Mobile Arena to rematch Max Holloway (27-9) at welterweight, having won their 2013 featherweight bout by decision. The pundit consensus is near-unanimous: McGregor's only real path is an early knockout, with the fight expected to stay on the feet, and his gas tank the biggest question after five years out. Chael Sonnen, Jorge Masvidal, Belal Muhammad and Jose Aldo's coach Andre Pederneiras all frame it the same way — McGregor dangerous early, Holloway favored to take over if it goes long.

Why it matters: It's likely the most-watched UFC card of all time, and the winner has a title path: lightweight or BMF options for Holloway, welterweight or BMF for McGregor — assuming McGregor still has anything left after the leg break and layoff.

Odds tell the story: Holloway favored as McGregor's line steams

Despite losing the 2013 fight, Holloway enters UFC 329 as roughly a -227 favorite over McGregor (+192), reflecting the Irishman's five years out. But McGregor's number has shortened sharply — from as wide as +420 (Holloway -550) at open to under +200 — with money chasing his early-finish threat. The card's biggest lock is Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson (-3300) in his heavyweight debut against Elisha Ellison; Benoit Saint-Denis, Adrian Yanez and Lone'er Kavanagh are also favored in notable spots.

Why it matters: The line movement without a flip captures the whole fight: bettors respect McGregor's power in the first two rounds but still trust Holloway's activity and cardio over 25 minutes.

Pimblett eyes McGregor at MSG as he meets Saint-Denis in co-main

Paddy Pimblett (23-4) looks to rebound from his UFC 324 interim-title loss to Justin Gaethje against surging Benoit Saint-Denis (17-3), who rides a four-fight finishing streak, in the UFC 329 co-main event. Pimblett dismissed the Frenchman's chin and cardio — 'Justin Gaethje's a completely different animal' — and predicts a finish inside two rounds. He's already campaigning for a McGregor fight at Madison Square Garden if both win, while coach Firas Zahabi argued the BSD scrap is too good not to have been a five-round main event of its own.

Why it matters: The winner is one fight from a Gaethje title shot, but Pimblett is openly angling for a McGregor money fight instead — a reminder that at 155 the marketable name often trumps the rankings.

Makhachev's first welterweight defense vs. Garry set for UFC 330

The UFC released the poster for UFC 330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, where welterweight champion Islam Makhachev (28-1) makes his first title defense against No. 1 contender Ian Machado Garry (17-1). Makhachev, tied with Anderson Silva for the longest win streak in UFC history at 16, took the belt by dominating Jack Della Maddalena. Garry earned the shot with wins over Carlos Prates and Belal Muhammad. Mackenzie Dern defends her strawweight title against Gillian Robertson in the co-main.

Why it matters: It's the first look at Makhachev as a two-division champion defending 170, against a young, unbeaten-at-welterweight contender — the fight that sets the division's direction post-McGregor weekend.

Hernandez vs. Rodrigues headlines UFC's Aug. 22 Sacramento card

The UFC returns to Sacramento's Golden 1 Center on Aug. 22 with a middleweight main event between No. 6 Anthony Hernandez (15-3) and No. 12 Gregory Rodrigues (15-3). Hernandez looks to bounce back from a loss to Sean Strickland, while Rodrigues rides a three-fight finishing streak. In the co-main, Reinier de Ridder officially moves to light heavyweight to face Roman Dolidze after back-to-back middleweight losses to Brendan Allen and Caio Borralho — with both men on skids. Serghei Spivac vs. Vitor Petrino also lands on the card.

Why it matters: It's a genuine title-relevance middleweight main event, and de Ridder's jump to 205 is a notable pivot for a fighter who arrived with big hype but stalled at 185.

Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Song Yadong to headline UFC Shanghai

The UFC's Aug. 29 return to Shanghai will be topped by a bantamweight title eliminator between No. 3 Umar Nurmagomedov (20-1) and China's No. 5 Song Yadong (23-9-1), fresh off a submission of Deiveson Figueiredo in Macau. Nurmagomedov, coming off his title-shot loss, was pulled from a July 25 date with David Martinez to take this fight. Former strawweight title challenger Yan Xiaonan (19-5) meets No. 13 Denise Gomes in the co-main, with the Road to UFC Season 5 semifinals running the night before.

Why it matters: The winner likely earns the next bantamweight title shot, and the UFC is again building a marquee card around Chinese stars in a key growth market.

Strickland apologizes to Poirier after mocking his depression

Sean Strickland drew heavy backlash for dismissing Dustin Poirier's admission of depression following Poirier's July 4-weekend arrest for public intoxication at an Atlanta airport, saying a rich, successful man has no right to be depressed. After speaking with Poirier, the middleweight walked it back: 'I spoke to Dustin and he is legitimately messed up by his actions... I repent and I am sorry.' Strickland also urged sponsor Bud Light not to drop the retired former interim champion.

Why it matters: A rare public apology from Strickland, and a window into Poirier's post-retirement struggles — who has said he remains under UFC contract and would be open to a McGregor fight.

Also worth a look

Browse previous days →