According to Ariel Helwani, the UFC's current plans include Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway headlining UFC 329 on July 11. Islam Makhachev vs Ian Garry is targeted to headline UFC 330 on August 15. These matchups represent high-profile bookings featuring major stars and champions. The McGregor-Holloway bout would be a rematch of their 2013 meeting. The Makhachev-Garry fight would put the lightweight champion against a rising welterweight contender. Both fights remain in the planning stages.
According to a report from Ariel Helwani, the UFC is targeting two marquee main events for the summer of 2026: Conor McGregor against Max Holloway headlining UFC 329 on July 11, and lightweight champion Islam Makhachev opposing welterweight contender Ian Garry at UFC 330 on August 15. Neither bout has been officially confirmed, and both remain in the planning stages.
McGregor, 37, carries a professional record of 22-6-0 and fights out of SBG Ireland. The Irish southpaw stands five-foot-nine with a notably long 74-inch reach and lands 5.32 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy. A return to the octagon would be a major event regardless of opponent, and the proposed Holloway matchup would serve as a rematch of the pair's 2013 encounter.
Holloway, 34, is currently ranked fourth in the lightweight division and ninth on the pound-for-pound list, carrying a 27-9-0 record. The orthodox striker out of Hawaii is one of the sport's most prolific volume punchers, landing 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. He stands five-foot-eleven with a 69-inch reach.
Makhachev enters any conversation as the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the sport, holding a 28-1-0 record. The Russian southpaw operates at 58 percent striking accuracy and averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, supplemented by 1.1 submission attempts in the same window — a combination that has made him the division's dominant force. His listed division in the database reflects welterweight, suggesting a potential cross-divisional or title-transition element to the Garry matchup.
Why it matters
- A McGregor-Holloway rematch would revisit a fight from over a decade ago, with both men substantially evolved since their featherweight contest.
- Makhachev facing a rising welterweight in Garry adds an inter-divisional dimension that could carry title or crossover implications.
- Neither fight is confirmed, meaning card positions, locations, and contractual details are all still unresolved.
