According to prominent MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, a bout between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway is on the brink of being officially signed and is slated to headline International Fight Week on July 11th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Helwani, who first reported the potential matchup weeks ago and claimed to have broken news of McGregor’s return and opponent, stated on “The Ariel Helwani Show” that UFC President Dana White has confirmed ongoing talks for a summer comeback, with July 11th being a strong possibility.
Ariel Helwani: Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway Rematch Very Close to Being Finalized for Las Vegas Return
This potential fight would serve as a rematch, with McGregor having defeated Holloway via unanimous decision in their initial featherweight encounter back in 2013. Since then, both fighters have navigated different weight classes. McGregor moved up to welterweight following his leg break against Dustin Poirier in 2021, while Holloway currently holds the BMF title at lightweight.
“It’s going to be Conor vs. Max. If you don’t believe me, you’re going to be proven wrong. As of right now, they’re on the goal line. Something awful has to happen for this fight not to come to fruition on July 11. That is the plan. It’s not quite one hundred percent but it’s very close to one hundred percent.”
Holloway is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 326 on March 7th for the BMF belt. Prior to that, he secured a win against Dustin Poirier at UFC 318 last July. McGregor has been inactive since his last fight with Poirier, where he sustained a broken tibia and fibula.
UFC 329 is scheduled to take place during International Fight Week, running from July 9th to the 12th. The event’s main card is set to commence at 6 p.m. from Las Vegas. Speculation surrounding this potential fight has been further fueled by a trailer for EA Sports UFC 6, which depicted Holloway knocking out McGregor.
Despite skepticism from figures like Chael Sonnen, Helwani remains confident in his reporting, pointing to Holloway’s recent interviews that subtly allude to the fight without explicit confirmation. While Dana White has stated that no contracts have been signed yet, Helwani describes it as “the plan.” McGregor has been training for his return, and an earlier scheduled bout in June 2024 was called off due to an injury, which White confirmed was legitimate and separate. Contracts reportedly remain unsigned on at least one side.
Helwani assesses the likelihood of the fight happening as extremely high, suggesting that only a significant unforeseen issue could prevent it. An official announcement could potentially be made before the UFC’s White House event on June 14th. Fans are eagerly awaiting official confirmation from the UFC, as a McGregor vs. Holloway main event would undoubtedly draw substantial interest for the five-round contest.
English Translation:
According to prominent MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, a bout between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway is on the brink of being officially signed and is slated to headline International Fight Week on July 11th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Helwani, who first reported the potential matchup weeks ago and claimed to have broken news of McGregor’s return and opponent, stated on “The Ariel Helwani Show” that UFC President Dana White has confirmed ongoing talks for a summer comeback, with July 11th being a strong possibility.
Ariel Helwani: Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway Rematch Very Close to Being Finalized for Las Vegas Return
This potential fight would serve as a rematch, with McGregor having defeated Holloway via unanimous decision in their initial featherweight encounter back in 2013. Since then, both fighters have navigated different weight classes. McGregor moved up to welterweight following his leg break against Dustin Poirier in 2021, while Holloway currently holds the BMF title at lightweight.
“It’s going to be Conor vs. Max. If you don’t believe me, you’re going to be proven wrong. As of right now, they’re on the goal line. Something awful has to happen for this fight not to come to fruition on July 11. That is the plan. It’s not quite one hundred percent but it’s very close to one hundred percent.”
Holloway is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 326 on March 7th for the BMF belt. Prior to that, he secured a win against Dustin Poirier at UFC 318 last July. McGregor has been inactive since his last fight with Poirier, where he sustained a broken tibia and fibula.
UFC 329 is scheduled to take place during International Fight Week, running from July 9th to the 12th. The event’s main card is set to commence at 6 p.m. from Las Vegas. Speculation surrounding this potential fight has been further fueled by a trailer for EA Sports UFC 6, which depicted Holloway knocking out McGregor.
Despite skepticism from figures like Chael Sonnen, Helwani remains confident in his reporting, pointing to Holloway’s recent interviews that subtly allude to the fight without explicit confirmation. While Dana White has stated that no contracts have been signed yet, Helwani describes it as “the plan.” McGregor has been training for his return, and an earlier scheduled bout in June 2024 was called off due to an injury, which White confirmed was legitimate and separate. Contracts reportedly remain unsigned on at least one side.
Helwani assesses the likelihood of the fight happening as extremely high, suggesting that only a significant unforeseen issue could prevent it. An official announcement could potentially be made before the UFC’s White House event on June 14th. Fans are eagerly awaiting official confirmation from the UFC, as a McGregor vs. Holloway main event would undoubtedly draw substantial interest for the five-round contest.