According to Ariel Helwani, the UFC's current plan has Conor McGregor versus Max Holloway headlining UFC 329 on July 11, and Islam Makhachev versus Ian Garry headlining UFC 330 on August 15. These matchups represent major fights for the promotion, with McGregor and Holloway renewing their rivalry from 2013, while lightweight champion Makhachev would defend his title against the surging Garry. Both events are expected to be significant draws, though official announcements have not yet been made. Details remain subject to change as contract negotiations continue.
According to a report from Ariel Helwani, the UFC is currently planning two marquee main events for the summer, with Conor McGregor facing Max Holloway slated to headline UFC 329 on July 11, and lightweight champion Islam Makhachev set to defend his title against Ian Garry at UFC 330 on August 15. Neither booking has been officially confirmed, and negotiations are said to be ongoing.
McGregor, 37, carries a 22-6-0 record and returns to the promotion as one of its biggest stars. The Irishman out of SBG Ireland stands five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach and fights out of a southpaw stance, landing 5.32 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy over his career. Holloway, meanwhile, has evolved into one of the sport's most durable and prolific strikers. The 34-year-old Hawaiian holds a 27-9-0 record, currently sits fourth in the lightweight rankings and ninth in the pound-for-pound standings, and posts a remarkable 7.2 significant strikes landed per minute at 48 percent accuracy. The two previously met back in 2013, making this a long-awaited renewal of their rivalry.
Makhachev enters the reported UFC 330 headliner as the undisputed pound-for-pound number-one fighter on the planet, carrying a 28-1-0 record and a champion's mastery of the grappling game. The 34-year-old Russian out of Eagles MMA averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes 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, but the matchup would represent a significant step up for the welterweight contender into a title fight at lightweight.
Why it matters
- McGregor vs. Holloway revisits a featherweight clash from over a decade ago, now set at a higher-profile stage with both men at lightweight
- A Makhachev title defense keeps the pound-for-pound summit contested heading into the second half of 2026
- Both events remain unconfirmed reports, meaning card positions and opponents could shift before any official announcement
