The UFC’s 2026 first-quarter schedule came and went without Conor McGregor appearing in the octagon, but talk of a comeback fight definitely has picked up steam as of late.
McGregor on March 24 declared in a social media post “the rumors are true,” confirming that the wheels are in motion for his return to the UFC. Then on March 29 following UFC Fight Night 271, Dana White told reporters he’s “confident” about getting a deal done with McGregor.
Advertisement
This is familiar territory for UFC fans, who’ve been down this road before since McGregor’s last appearance in July 2021 when he lost by injury TKO to Dustin Poirier. Whether or not the UFC can reel in its biggest star remains to be seen, but here’s what we know about a potential McGregor return to MMA.
Why isn’t Conor McGregor fighting at UFC Freedom 250?
For months on end, McGregor repeatedly insisted he should headline the UFC White House card on June 14. And for months on end, Michael Chandler repeatedly called – some might say begged – for him to be the opponent as he was supposed to be before McGregor withdrew from UFC 303 in June 2024. But alas, McGregor was nowhere to be found when the UFC Freedom 250 lineup was announced last month because, as it turns out, he never was in the promotion’s plans.
In hindsight, it was foolish to believe the UFC would put McGregor’s highly anticipated return on a card with an immense amount of built-in hype, which UFC Freedom 250 has simply because it’s happening on the South Lawn of the White House.
Advertisement
When will Conor McGregor fight?
A month after UFC Freedom 250 goes down at the White House, the UFC plans to host its next numbered event July 11 with UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, marking the return of International Fight Week. According to reports, that’s the target date for McGregor’s return.
“It would be something disastrous, at this point, if he’s not fighting July 11th at International Fight Week,” Ariel Helwani said on “The Ariel Helwani Show.”
Story continues below the content list
Who will be Conor McGregor’s opponent?
Momentum for Max Holloway – who lost to McGregor in August 2013 – to be McGregor’s opponent picked up traction last month after Holloway, on the heels of his BMF title loss to Charles Oliveira, called for a rematch “at any weight.” While nothing has been finalized, Helwani said that Holloway “is the frontrunner” to fight McGregor at welterweight.
Advertisement
UFC analyst Chael Sonnen, however, told MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn that McGregor “for sure” won’t fight Holloway and suggested McGregor’s former teammate, Ian Machado Garry, as his opponent. “I think Conor’s probably going to get dealt right from the bottom of the deck,” Sonnen said. “They’re probably going to bring in a hammer like Ian Garry.”
Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 3: Missed opportunity?
UFC President Dana White (C) separatesNate Diaz (L) and Conor McGregor (R) as they face off during their weigh-in for UFC 202 at MGM Grand Conference Center on August 19, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
One potential McGregor fight that always gets talked about is a trilogy with Nate Diaz. The two stars had a memorable pair of fights in 2016, with Diaz winning by second-round submission at UFC 196 and McGregor eking out a majority decision at UFC 202.
Advertisement
During a recent appearance on “This Past Weekend w/Theo Von,” Diaz confirmed the UFC was looking to make the trilogy but said he preferred to fight Oliveira for the BMF title if he signed with the UFC. Diaz explained that he expects to fight McGregor at some point, just not right now.
“Me and Conor will fight again when the time is right, but it’s going to be when we’re both on the uprise, not when somebody is dying, or I’m nobody’s comeback story either,” Diaz said. “I’m fighting the most dangerous motherf*cker there is on Netflix, and then I’m hunting his boy (Jake Paul), who he works with at MVP. That’s what I’m doing right now.”
Diaz instead chose to sign a one-fight deal with Netflix and will face Mike Perry on the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano card streaming May 16 on Netflix.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Is Conor McGregor still fighting this year? What we know
