Their final face-off before UFC 329 in Las Vegas set the stage for a rematch more than a decade in the making. The bout took place July 11 at T-Mobile Arena, where McGregor returned to the Octagon after nearly five years away. Their first meeting, a featherweight contest in 2013, ended in a unanimous-decision victory for McGregor.
The rematch was contested at welterweight, with a division limit of 170 pounds, a move up from their first fight. It was McGregor’s first UFC appearance since his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021, which ended after McGregor suffered a leg injury. The ceremonial weigh-in preceded the basic event; the event’s weigh-in coverage reported that both headliners were ready to compete.
The fight itself ended abruptly. McGregor injured his knee, and the contest was stopped at 1 minute 9 seconds of the first round. Referee Marc Goddard called a TKO for Holloway after he followed McGregor to the canvas and landed punches. The stoppage cut short the comeback bout and turned the night’s defining story from a potential return victory into an injury setback.
The win was Holloway’s first over McGregor and brought his professional record to 28-9. It also marked a impressive achievement across weight classes: Holloway had now recorded UFC wins in three divisions, from featherweight through welterweight, including lightweight. The result contrasted with their 2013 meeting, when both men competed at featherweight.
McGregor’s previous UFC fight had already followed a serious leg injury, and the knee damage sustained against Holloway was later described as involving the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus. He underwent ACL reconstruction surgery in August and began rehabilitation. Dillon Danis, McGregor’s friend and training partner, later described him as focused on returning to the UFC, while a possible appearance during International Fight Week 2027 was discussed as a prospect, not an announced bout. No new fight date has been officially set.
International Fight Week brings fans and figures from across combat sports to Las Vegas, placing UFC 329 within a wider annual gathering around the promotion. But the card’s lasting significance came from the unexpected finish to its core event: Holloway secured his first win over McGregor, while the Irishman’s return ended in surgery and recovery instead of the full comeback performance many had anticipated.
