According to Ariel Helwani, the UFC's current plan includes booking Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway as the main event of UFC 329 on July 11. Additionally, the promotion is targeting Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Garry to headline UFC 330 on August 15. These two fights would represent major draws for the summer schedule, with McGregor's return and a potential lightweight title defense by Makhachev. While these matchups are reportedly in the works, neither has been officially confirmed by the UFC. The timeline suggests back-to-back marquee events in mid-summer.
The UFC is reportedly mapping out a blockbuster summer schedule, with plans said to include Conor McGregor versus Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11 and Islam Makhachev defending his title against Ian Garry at UFC 330 on August 15. Neither fight has been officially confirmed by the promotion, and the reports come by way of journalist Ariel Helwani.
McGregor, 37, would be returning to the octagon under what remains an unconfirmed timeline. The Irishman out of SBG Ireland carries a 22-6-0 record and brings a southpaw striking game that has produced 5.32 significant strikes landed per minute across his career, with a 49 percent accuracy rate. At five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach, he would be stepping in against a fighter widely considered one of the most dangerous strikers in the sport.
Holloway, 34, trains out of Gracie Technics and sits fourth in the lightweight rankings with a 27-9-0 record. The Hawaiian standout is one of the division's most prolific volume strikers, landing 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. A former featherweight champion, he holds a top-ten pound-for-pound ranking and would represent a proven elite opponent for McGregor's reported comeback.
Makhachev, also 34, is the reigning champion and the number-one pound-for-pound fighter in the world according to current rankings. The Russian out of Eagles MMA holds a 28-1-0 record and operates as a southpaw at five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach. His grappling is the defining feature of his game — 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes — backed by a striking accuracy of 58 percent.
Why it matters
- McGregor's return, if confirmed, would be among the most anticipated bouts in recent UFC history
- Holloway's ranking and volume striking make him a credible and marketable opponent at lightweight
- A Makhachev title defense against Garry would test the champion against a rising welterweight-turned-contender
- Back-to-back marquee events in July and August would give the UFC significant mid-summer pay-per-view momentum
