Could UFC 329 Be Conor McGregor’s Final Chapter?
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The UFC made a major announcement this past weekend — Conor McGregor is back.
After a five-year layoff, McGregor returns on July 11th during International Fight Week at UFC 329, where he’ll face a familiar opponent in Max Holloway. But for McGregor, this is much more than a comeback.
This could be the end.
Five Year Layoff
McGregor’s last fight came on July 10, 2021, at UFC 264 against Dustin Poirier, where he suffered a gruesome leg break in the opening round. Since then, fans have heard constant teases of a return. But, nothing ever materialized.
The closest came in 2023, when McGregor and Michael Chandler coached opposite each other on Season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter. Traditionally, the coaches fight at the end of the season. That fight never happened.
A broken toe forced McGregor out, and despite ongoing speculation, the matchup was never rebooked. What followed was another three years on the sidelines. Years filled with headlines, but not the kind that happen inside the cage.
Lawsuits & Mishaps
Outside of fighting, McGregor faced legal battles. In July 2025, Ireland’s Court of Appeal rejected his attempt to overturn a 2024 civil verdict that found him liable for sexual assault stemming from a 2018 incident, ordering him to pay damages.
A separate lawsuit filed in Florida in 2023 was later dropped in December 2025.
He also reached a settlement with former UFC fighter Artem Lobov, who claimed he was owed a share of McGregor’s Proper No. 12 whiskey business. Now, with those issues behind him, McGregor is finally set to return.
But this time, everything is different.
UFC 329
The fight will take place at welterweight—170 pounds. That’s a massive jump from the featherweight division where McGregor and Holloway first met in 2013. Back then, McGregor won by decision.
Now, both men enter a completely different version of that matchup. Holloway, coming off a March loss to Charles Oliveira at lightweight, will also be stepping into unfamiliar territory at 170 pounds.
But he remains one of the most dangerous fighters in the sport. He’s active, durable, and his boxing volume is among the best in MMA. Over the last five years, while McGregor has been sidelined, Holloway has fought eight times, winning five of those bouts, including his iconic last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.
Activity matters. There’s a difference between training for a fight and actually being in them. And Holloway has a massive edge in that department.
Which brings us to the real question: What happens if Conor McGregor loses?
Is This The End?
Because this isn’t just another fight. This is a comeback after five years away, following a devastating injury, with the entire world watching.
If McGregor returns only to fall short, it’s fair to ask whether there’s anything left to prove, or anything left to chase.
There was a time when fans weren’t even sure he’d ever come back. Even now, some won’t believe it until he’s standing in the cage on July 11th.
But if that night ends in defeat, it may not feel like the start of something new. It may feel like the closing chapter.
Love him or hate him, McGregor has been one of the biggest stars the sport has ever seen. He helped elevate the UFC into a global powerhouse.
But at UFC 329, we may be witnessing more than just a return. We may be watching the end of an era.
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