Ariel Helwani reports that Conor McGregor versus Max Holloway is now on the finishing straight and something extraordinary would have to happen for the bout to fall through. According to Helwani, everything is almost ready at this point. The fight will be signed, formalized, and finally confirmed for July 11. Something serious would have to occur to prevent this matchup from happening. The plan is not yet 100 percent confirmed but is very close to being finalized.
A rematch between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway is on the verge of becoming official, with reporter Ariel Helwani indicating the July 11 bout is in its final stages of negotiation and that something extraordinary would have to occur to derail it.
McGregor, 37, carries a 22-6-0 professional record and returns under the banner of SBG Ireland. The Irishman is a southpaw standing five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach — a notable physical advantage in most matchups. He lands 5.32 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy, and while he is not a frequent submission threat, he does average 0.67 takedowns per 15 minutes, showing more grappling activity than many expect from him.
Holloway, 34, enters ranked fourth in the lightweight division and ninth pound-for-pound, carrying a 27-9-0 record. The Hawaiian, who trains with Gracie Technics, stands five-foot-eleven in the orthodox stance with a 69-inch reach. He is one of the sport's highest-volume strikers, landing 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy — figures that place him among the elite in output.
Why it matters
- McGregor has not competed recently, making his return one of the most anticipated in the sport
- Holloway's top-five lightweight ranking means the bout carries genuine divisional weight
- The reach and style contrast — McGregor's southpaw angles against Holloway's relentless volume — sets up a compelling technical puzzle
- The pairing carries box-office significance given both fighters' profiles and their history from the featherweight era
Helwani stopped short of declaring the fight fully confirmed, and no official announcement has been made as of the report date of May 11, 2026, but all indications point to the contract being signed and formalized in short order.
