Ariel Helwani reports that the UFC's current plan includes Conor McGregor versus Max Holloway as the main event of UFC 329 on July 11. Additionally, Islam Makhachev is scheduled to defend his lightweight title against Ian Garry in the main event of UFC 330 on August 15. These represent two major matchups for the summer schedule. McGregor's return has been long-anticipated, while Makhachev would be making another title defense. Garry has been rising through the welterweight ranks but this would place him in a lightweight title fight.
According to a report from Ariel Helwani, the UFC is eyeing two massive summer bookings: Conor McGregor against Max Holloway as the headliner of UFC 329 on July 11, and Islam Makhachev defending the lightweight title against Ian Garry at UFC 330 on August 15. Neither fight has been officially confirmed, and both should be treated as the promotion's current planning rather than finalized matchups.
McGregor, 37, returns to the picture carrying a 22-6 record. The Irish southpaw out of SBG Ireland stands five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach and has averaged 5.32 significant strikes per minute across his career, landing at a 49 percent clip. His return has been anticipated for some time, and a bout with Holloway would immediately command attention.
Holloway, 34, enters as the number-four ranked lightweight and number-nine ranked fighter pound-for-pound, boasting a 27-9 record. The orthodox striker from Hawaii and Gracie Technics stands five-foot-eleven with a 69-inch reach and is one of the most prolific volume strikers in the sport at 7.2 significant strikes per minute on a 48 percent accuracy rate.
Makhachev, also 34, is the reigning champion and the top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world at 28-1. The Russian southpaw from Eagles MMA stands five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach. He lands strikes at a 58 percent accuracy rate and is a dominant grappler, averaging 3.2 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes. Notably, the verified data lists him under welterweight, adding an unusual dimension to a reported lightweight title defense.
Ian Garry has been building his profile in the welterweight division, and a jump to a lightweight title fight would represent a significant and unconventional step up in both weight class and competition.
Why it matters
- McGregor's long-awaited return would be one of the biggest pay-per-view draws in recent memory
- Holloway's top-five lightweight ranking means the bout carries genuine divisional weight beyond star power
- A second Makhachev title defense in 2026 would further cement his championship reign, though the Garry matchup crosses divisional lines in a way that raises questions about its official framing
- Both events remain unconfirmed reports, leaving considerable room for changes before any official announcement
