​The most eagerly awaited UFC press conference of the year is set to take place on July 9, signaling the return of Conor McGregor as he aims for a fairytale comeback against longtime nemesis Max Holloway. The hype surrounding the event is tangible, with fans and pundits keen to see how McGregor handles the challenges of a welterweight bout, the potential that he could be fighting out of contract, and lingering questions about his most recent performance. Despite the uncertainties, the atmosphere is electric, and anticipation for the return of “The Notorious” is at a fever pitch as he prepares for his first press conference in Las Vegas, Nevada in over five years. Here is everything you need to know about the UFC 329 press event.
The pre-fight press conference is slated to begin at 10:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 9, and will feature only the main event and co-main event combatants: Conor McGregor, Max Holloway, Paddy Pimblett, and Benoit Saint-Denis. UFC will stream the press conference free of charge on its official YouTube channel, inviting viewers to join the live chat and react in real-time as the fighters make their appearances. The UFC’s live stream is embedded on the official page for convenient access.
UFC 329 showcases a 14-fight lineup loaded with high-profile names. Among the notable matchups are Cory Sandhagen and Mario Bautista, Paddy Pimblett, and Brandon Royval. Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker is featured on the prelims against finisher Nikita Krylov, while former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt seeks a second straight win against Adrian Yanez.
McGregor (22-6) versus Holloway (27-9) marks a welterweight showdown on the main card, with Benoit Saint-Denis (17-3) facing Paddy Pimblett (23-4) in a lightweight contest. Additional bouts include Cory Sandhagen (18-6) versus Mario Bautista (17-3) at bantamweight, and a heavyweight clash between Gable Steveson (3-0) and Elisha Ellison (5-2). The card also features Brandon Royval (17-9) against Lone’er Kavanagh (10-1) at flyweight, Damian Pinas (9-1) versus Cesar Almeida (7-2) at middleweight, and Ryan Gandra (9-1) versus Zach Reese (10-3) at middleweight. Cody Durden (18-10-1) battles Ode Osbourne (13-9) at flyweight, Cody Garbrandt (15-7) takes on Adrian Yanez (17-6-1) at bantamweight, Kai Kamaka III (18-7-1) faces Luke Riley (13-0) at featherweight, and Robert Whittaker (26-9) meets Nikita Krylov (31-11) at light heavyweight. Additional matchups include Tracy Cortez (12-3) versus Cong Wang (9-1) at flyweight and King Green (35-17-1) versus Terrance McKinney (18-8) at lightweight, with Farid Basharat (15-0) taking on John Garza (6-1) at bantamweight to round out the card.
McGregor vs. Holloway 2 is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 11. The prelims will conclude at 9:00 p.m. ET, followed by the main card, with McGregor and Holloway expected to clash around 11:00 p.m. ET. The event takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Conor McGregor has not fought since breaking his tibia against Dustin Poirier in 2021. He last competed in 2021 at UFC 264, a trilogy rematch with Holloway’s rival, Poirier. The matchup and the surrounding storyline keep fans buzzing as they await the spectacle that is McGregor’s return to the octagon.