We’re now nearly three full months into 2026, and which means it’s time to start out speculating about whether or not or not Conor McGregor will return to struggle within the UFC this 12 months.
The largest star within the historical past of the UFC and MMA as a complete, McGregor hasn’t stepped into the cage since a damaged ankle ended his trilogy struggle with Dustin Poirier after the opening spherical when the 2 males headlined UFC 264 in 2021.
There have been quite a few obstacles and false begins to McGregor’s UFC return within the years since then, and he was scheduled to meet his fellow The Ultimate Fighter coach Michael Chandler in the principle occasion of UFC 303 in the summertime of 2024 earlier than withdrawing from that reserving with a damaged toe.
Ariel Helwani Claims Conor McGregor’s UFC Return Is Set For July 11
The most up-to-date rumors round McGregor have been largely centered on the concept he might have returned at the UFC White House card in June, however neither he, nor currently-retired UFC legend Jon Jones, will characteristic as a part of the occasion that’s being dubbed “UFC Freedom Fights 250” on June 14.
That occasion should become the most important UFC present of the 12 months regardless that fan reception to the fight card has been lukewarm at best, however Ariel Helwani claims that “The Notorious” may nonetheless steal the highlight this summer season with a return throughout International Fight Week on July 11.
“At this point, I think it would be safe to say that it would be a disastrous situation – something disastrous would have had to have happened, if he’s not fighting on July 11,” Helwani said this week. “They need this, now more than ever. They need Conor McGregor to be on this card…It feels to me like [Max Holloway] is trying to tell us ‘This is what I want’, and I don’t think he’s talking if things aren’t happening behind the scenes.”
Max Holloway & “The Notorious” Fought At Featherweight In 2013
Though there are apparent query marks round how he’ll bodily look within the cage at this stage of his profession, a rematch with Max Holloway can be a far larger return struggle for McGregor than most of the choices which were rumored over the last 12 months or so.
The two males famously met throughout McGregor’s preliminary rise to stardom within the featherweight division in 2013. After successful his promotional debut with a first-round knockout in opposition to Marcus Brimage, McGregor injured his knee early within the struggle with Holloway and employed a surprisingly wrestling-heavy model to take a unanimous determination over the Hawaiian.
The consequence put Holloway on a two-fight skid and introduced his total UFC report to 3-3, however Holloway responded by occurring a large win streak that noticed him set up himself as an all-time featherweight nice with a title reign that included three profitable defenses of his belt.
Holloway took the “BMF” belt from Justin Gaethje with an iconic last-second knockout at UFC 300 earlier than falling to Ilia Topuria in a failed bid to reclaim the featherweight title. Now a full-time light-weight, the 34-year-old retired fellow McGregor-rival Poirier and efficiently defended the “BMF” title of their third assembly at UFC 318, however he was soundly out-grappled by fellow UFC legend Charles Oliveira in his second bid to defend the strap at UFC 326.
