{"id":67784,"date":"2026-05-17T01:22:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T05:22:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/conor-mcgregor-set-to-return-to-ufc-ring-after-nearly-four-year-absence\/"},"modified":"2026-05-17T01:22:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T05:22:20","slug":"conor-mcgregor-set-to-return-to-ufc-ring-after-nearly-four-year-absence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/conor-mcgregor-set-to-return-to-ufc-ring-after-nearly-four-year-absence\/","title":{"rendered":"Conor McGregor Set to Return to UFC Ring After Nearly Four-Year Absence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

Former dual-division UFC champion Conor McGregor is scheduled to step back into the octagon on July 11 in Las Vegas, UFC President Dana White revealed during Saturday evening’s UFC event.<\/p>

The Irish fighter will face off against Hawaiian competitor Max Holloway in the featured bout at UFC 329, taking place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The match will occur in the lightweight\/welterweight division. McGregor hasn’t competed since sustaining a leg fracture during his bout with Dustin Poirier in July 2021.<\/p>

Known for his dynamic striking abilities and provocative promotional style, McGregor joined the UFC in 2013 and rapidly rose to become mixed martial arts’ most recognizable figure. In 2016, he captured the UFC lightweight championship while already holding the featherweight title, making history as the first fighter to simultaneously possess two UFC championships.<\/p>

McGregor’s bold personality resonated with audiences worldwide, and he played a significant role in elevating MMA from a sport once criticized by U.S. Senator John McCain as “human cockfighting” into mainstream popularity.<\/p>

His crossover boxing bout with Floyd Mayweather in August 2017 earned the Irishman substantial financial rewards, though he has competed in MMA only four times since defeating Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight championship on November 12, 2016, suffering defeats in three of those contests.<\/p>

The 37-year-old McGregor was originally scheduled to face former Bellator champion Michael Chandler in June 2024, but that bout was canceled due to a toe injury sustained during training.<\/p>

Subsequently, an Irish civil court jury determined he was liable for the rape of Nikita Hand in 2018.<\/p>

In October 2025, McGregor accepted an 18-month suspension for “whereabouts failures” after missing three sample collection attempts by Combat Sports Anti-Doping in 2024. The suspension was applied retroactively and concluded in March.<\/p>

Should McGregor compete against Holloway on July 11, it will mark exactly five years and one day since his leg injury against Poirier.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor will return to competition on July 11 in Las Vegas against Max Holloway. The Irish fighter hasn’t competed since suffering a broken leg in July 2021 against Dustin Poirier.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":67783,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[836],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1778995340479.jpg?fit=450%2C335&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-hDi","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":62915,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/ufc-fighter-holloway-training-for-mcgregor-bout-without-signed-contract\/","url_meta":{"origin":67784,"position":0},"title":"UFC Fighter Holloway Training for McGregor Bout Without Signed Contract","author":"Admin","date":"May 6, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway is preparing for a potential July rematch with Conor McGregor despite having no official contract. The fighters previously met in 2013, with McGregor winning by unanimous decision.","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1778120528973.jpg?fit=450%2C306&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":72342,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/top-ufc-lightweights-saint-denis-and-pimblett-set-for-vegas-showdown\/","url_meta":{"origin":67784,"position":1},"title":"Top UFC Lightweights Saint Denis and Pimblett Set for Vegas Showdown","author":"Admin","date":"May 26, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Two highly-ranked UFC lightweight fighters will clash on July 11 in Las Vegas as part of the McGregor vs. Holloway 2 event. The matchup features No. 5 Benoit Saint Denis against No. 6 Paddy Pimblett at T-Mobile Arena.","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1779844913186.jpg?fit=450%2C302&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":94344,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/mcgregors-ufc-comeback-ends-in-seconds-after-knee-gives-out-against-holloway\/","url_meta":{"origin":67784,"position":2},"title":"McGregor’s UFC Comeback Ends in Seconds After Knee Gives Out Against Holloway","author":"Admin","date":"July 12, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Conor McGregor's long-awaited return to the UFC ended almost before it began Saturday night in Las Vegas, when the Irish fighter suffered a serious knee injury just over a minute into the opening round. McGregor, who hadn't competed since breaking his leg in 2021, attempted a flying kick that went\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783833431854.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":65635,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/irish-fighter-mcgregor-close-to-ufc-return-deal-for-summer-bout\/","url_meta":{"origin":67784,"position":3},"title":"Irish Fighter McGregor Close to UFC Return Deal for Summer Bout","author":"Admin","date":"May 12, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor appears close to finalizing his return to the UFC octagon after a three-year absence. Multiple sources indicate the Irish fighter is negotiating a summer rematch against Max Holloway for July.","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1778628142596.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":94572,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/ufc-329-holloway-stops-mcgregor-in-round-1-sets-betmgm-betting-record\/","url_meta":{"origin":67784,"position":4},"title":"UFC 329: Holloway Stops McGregor in Round 1, Sets BetMGM Betting Record","author":"Admin","date":"July 12, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Max Holloway needed just over a minute to finish Conor McGregor at UFC 329 on Saturday, but the fight still generated historic betting numbers. BetMGM reported it was the most-wagered MMA event in the sportsbook's history, with the majority of bettors backing McGregor despite him being the underdog. Holloway's victory\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783901822862.jpg?fit=450%2C304&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":94587,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/mcgregors-knee-gives-out-after-first-kick-at-ufc-329-coach-says-no-prior-injury\/","url_meta":{"origin":67784,"position":5},"title":"McGregor’s Knee Gives Out After First Kick at UFC 329, Coach Says No Prior Injury","author":"Admin","date":"July 12, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"UFC fighter Conor McGregor's return bout against Max Holloway ended in just 69 seconds after he suffered a knee injury on his very first kick. His longtime coach says the move had been practiced daily for months with no problems. 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