According to Ariel Helwani, the UFC's current plan includes Conor McGregor versus Max Holloway as the main event for UFC 329 on July 11. The promotion is also working on Islam Makhachev versus Ian Garry as the main event for UFC 330 on August 15. These plans have not been officially confirmed by the UFC. Both matchups would be significant for their respective divisions.
According to a report from journalist Ariel Helwani, the UFC is eyeing two marquee main events for consecutive summer pay-per-view cards: Conor McGregor versus Max Holloway headlining UFC 329 on July 11, and Islam Makhachev versus Ian Garry topping UFC 330 on August 15. Neither booking has received official confirmation from the promotion.
McGregor, 37, carries a 22-6-0 record and has not competed in years, making any return a massive commercial event regardless of opponent. The Irishman out of SBG Ireland stands five-foot-nine with a notable 74-inch reach and throws at a clip of 5.32 significant strikes per minute with 49 percent accuracy. Holloway, 34, enters riding considerable momentum at 27-9-0 and currently sits fourth in the lightweight rankings and ninth pound-for-pound. The Hawaiian, who trains with Gracie Technics, is one of the sport's most prolific volume strikers, landing 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy.
Makhachev is the reigning welterweight champion, ranked first pound-for-pound at 28-1-0. The 34-year-old Russian southpaw out of Eagles MMA is built around a suffocating grappling game, averaging 3.2 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes while posting a striking accuracy of 58 percent. His reported opponent, Ian Garry, does not appear in the verified fighter database, so further detail on his record and standing cannot be confirmed at this time.
Why it matters
- A McGregor-Holloway fight would pit one of the sport's biggest stars against a proven top-five lightweight, with serious divisional implications for Holloway
- Makhachev defending against a welterweight challenger would be an unusual cross-divisional title scenario worth monitoring for rankings consequences
- Both cards remain unconfirmed and should be treated as planned rather than finalized matchups
