The UFC is staging its event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for UFC 329, airing on Paramount+. The Saturday card, set for July 11, features the return of Conor McGregor as its headliner. The former two-division champion makes his first appearance inside the Octagon in five years when he takes on former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway in the welterweight main event of UFC 329. In the co-main, Paddy Pimblett faces Benoit Saint Denis in a crucial lightweight matchup.
From FORBES, written by Trent Reinsmith, UFC 329’s fight card, odds, prop bets, predictions, and picks are laid out with all the event details. The main card is scheduled to begin at 9:00 p.m. ET, with the preliminary bouts kicking off at 7:00 p.m. ET and early prelims starting at 5:00 p.m. ET. The venue is T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Paramount+ will be the platform for viewing.
Dana White has highlighted the significance of UFC 329, including the prospect of the promotion delivering its largest live gate in UFC history. The headline sees Conor McGregor versus Max Holloway, while the rest of the card features notable matchups such as Paddy Pimblett versus Benoit Saint Denis, Mario Bautista against Cory Sandhagen, and Lone’er Kavanagh taking on Brandon Royval. Other intriguing battles on the lineup include King Green versus Terrance McKinney, Nikita Krylov versus Robert Whittaker, Elisha Ellison versus Gable Steveson, Cody Garbrandt versus Adrian Yanez, and Kai Kamaka III versus Luke Riley. Additional bouts listed include Cong Wang versus Tracy Cortez, Cesar Almeida versus Damian Pinas, Farid Basharat versus John Garza, Ryan Gandra versus Zach Reese, Alessandro Costa versus Cody Durden, among others.
This isn’t the first time UFC executives have teased McGregor’s return. In April 2024, UFC organized a McGregor versus Michael Chandler main event for UFC 303, held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Dana White expressed confidence that the event would attract a live gate surpassing $20 million, even labeling UFC 303 as potentially the first to achieve such a milestone. However, McGregor withdrew from UFC 303 in mid-June due to a broken toe, causing the event to lose some momentum. That card eventually posted a live gate of about $15.9 million, while UFC 306 later surpassed the $20 million figure, drawing a live gate of roughly $21.8 million at the Sphere in Las Vegas with an attendance of 16,024.
McGregor, now 37, carries a professional record of 22-6 and has experienced a rough stretch since October 2018, going 1-3 in his last fights. His most recent win came via TKO in January 2020 against Donald Cerrone. He has suffered back-to-back TKO losses to Dustin Poirier and, most recently, faced a period marked by injuries, including a broken leg that sidelined him in 2021. In the years following his last UFC appearance, McGregor was also found liable in a civil case related to sexual assault, a matter unrelated to his in-cage performances but frequently noted in coverage surrounding his career.
Max Holloway, who has fought eight times since McGregor’s last appearance, has a record of 5-3 over those bouts. Holloway has challenged for the title on multiple occasions, losing to Charles Oliveira in a symbolic fight, Ilia Topuria in a featherweight contest, and Alex Volkanovski in another featherweight title fight. His wins in that stretch include victories over Yair Rodriguez, Arnold Allen, and the Korean Zombie, among others, showcasing Holloway’s continued high-level competition even after McGregor’s long layoff.
For readers seeking a broader view, the UFC 329 lineup includes a mix of seasoned veterans and rising stars across several weight classes, with the McGregor-Holloway headliner carrying enormous interest from fans and bettors alike. The event promises a night of high-stakes matchups and potential new momentum for fighters climbing back into title contention, as well as a spectacle that could redefine McGregor’s legacy following years away from the Octagon.
Content Source: Yahoo News
Image Credit: Getty Images
All rights to the news content and images belong to their respective copyright owners.