MMA journalist Ariel Helwani reports that the UFC is working on booking a fight between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway for July 11. This would mark a rematch of their 2013 encounter, which McGregor won by unanimous decision when both were featherweights. Both fighters have evolved significantly since their first meeting over a decade ago. If confirmed, this fight would represent a major booking for the UFC's summer schedule. The matchup would pit McGregor's star power against Holloway's recent surge in popularity following his BMF title win.
According to MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, the UFC is in the process of arranging a rematch between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway, with a target date of July 11. The bout has not been officially confirmed, but Helwani's report signals that serious discussions are underway for what would be one of the biggest matchups on the UFC's summer calendar.
McGregor, 37, carries a 22-6-0 record and fights out of SBG Ireland. The southpaw stands five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach — a notable physical advantage he tends to exploit at close range. He lands 5.32 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy and owns the original victory over Holloway, a unanimous decision from their 2013 featherweight contest. He holds no current divisional ranking in the verified data.
Holloway, 34, has developed into one of the sport's elite strikers since that first meeting over a decade ago. Now ranked fourth at lightweight and ninth in the pound-for-pound standings, he carries a 27-9-0 record and fights out of Gracie Technics. The orthodox fighter stands five-foot-eleven with a 69-inch reach and produces an exceptional 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. His recent BMF title win has amplified his already considerable standing in the sport.
Why it matters
- McGregor and Holloway last met in 2013 at featherweight, making this a long-awaited rematch more than a decade in the making
- Holloway's current fourth-place lightweight ranking means divisional positioning could be on the line depending on how the bout is structured
- A high-output striker in Holloway against the power and reach of McGregor sets up a compelling stylistic contrast
- The report remains unconfirmed, and official announcement is still pending
