The main card for UFC 329 during International Fight Week has been announced, with Conor McGregor featured as the headliner. Observers note the card appears less star-studded than typical major events, relying heavily on McGregor's drawing power. Concerns were raised that if McGregor withdraws as he did two years ago when facing Chandler, the backup options like Max Holloway versus Paddy Pimblett might not carry the same appeal. That previous situation required a hastily arranged Pereira-Prochazka rematch and left fans disappointed with the overall card quality. Suggestions were made that UFC should add another major fight like Oliveira versus Tsarukyan, potentially for the BMF belt, as insurance against potential card weakening.
UFC 329 has been officially announced for International Fight Week on July 11, 2026, with Conor McGregor serving as the headline attraction for what promises to be one of the year's most anticipated cards.
McGregor's presence alone is expected to carry enormous commercial weight, but observers have noted the surrounding card lacks the depth typically associated with a marquee International Fight Week event. The concern is familiar: two years ago, McGregor pulled out of a scheduled bout against Michael Chandler, forcing the UFC to scramble for a replacement headliner and leaving fans broadly disappointed with the overall package.
Should history repeat itself, one proposed contingency already circulating is a lightweight clash between Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan, potentially contested for the BMF title. Oliveira, 36, holds a 37-11-0 record and is ranked third in the lightweight division, with a P4P ranking of eleventh. Fighting out of Brazil with Chute Boxe Diego Lima, "Do Bronxs" is one of the most dangerous submission threats in the sport, averaging 2.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside 2.22 takedowns in the same span.
The other cited fallback option for a headliner is a lightweight showdown between fourth-ranked Max Holloway and sixth-ranked Paddy Pimblett. Holloway, 34, carries a 27-9-0 record and represents the United States out of Gracie Technics. The Hawaiian is one of the most prolific strikers in the division, landing 7.2 significant strikes per minute. Pimblett, 31, is 23-4-0 and fights out of Next Generation MMA Liverpool. The Englishman lands 5.49 significant strikes per minute with a 52 percent accuracy rate and adds a submission threat, averaging 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- McGregor's reliability as a headliner remains an open question given his recent history of late withdrawals
- A Holloway versus Pimblett backup lacks the divisional weight of a full title or top-contender fight
- Adding Oliveira versus Tsarukyan, potentially for the BMF belt, would give the card a concrete high-stakes lightweight contest regardless of McGregor's participation
- All three proposed lightweight fighters sit in the top six of the divisional rankings, meaning any combination carries genuine title-race implications
Saturday, July 11, 2026
