McGregor vs Holloway 2 Result: Holloway Wins as McGregor Needs Surgery
Five years is a long time in any sport. In MMA, it’s long enough for an entire division to turn over twice. Conor McGregor found that out the hard way, and the McGregor vs Holloway 2 result now has the biggest name the sport has ever produced facing a question nobody wants to ask out loud: is that it?
McGregor’s long awaited return, his first fight since breaking his leg at UFC 264 back in July 2021, headlined UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on July 11 as part of International Fight Week. He faced Max Holloway in a welterweight bout, new territory for Holloway, who made his 170 pound debut in the fight. McGregor lost and left the cage needing knee surgery.
What Happened
This was McGregor and Holloway’s second meeting. Their first came all the way back in August 2013 at featherweight, a fight McGregor won by unanimous decision. Thirteen years and a full career apart later, the two former featherweight champions met again at a heavier weight class with a very different story attached.
UFC CEO Dana White said afterward he’s uncertain what the future holds for McGregor following the injury. McGregor himself reportedly wants the loss overturned and is pushing for bets to be refunded, a request sportsbooks have shown no indication of honoring. UFC.com has the official event page and full results.
Why the McGregor vs Holloway 2 Result Mattered Beyond the Scorecard
No belts were on the line at UFC 329, but the event still carried heavier stakes than almost any title fight this year. McGregor remains the biggest needle mover the sport has ever had, and this fight was as much about answering a five year question as it was about the actual outcome. Whatever the judges’ scorecards said, the sport got its answer either way. McGregor, at 38, after years away and a serious leg injury in his last outing, could not solve a motivated, well prepared Holloway at a new weight class.
The Rest of the UFC 329 Card
The co-main event carried real title implications at lightweight, with Benoit Saint Denis riding a hot streak into a bout with Paddy Pimblett, a fight many expected to double as a title eliminator. The rest of the card featured Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista at bantamweight, Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Brandon Royval at flyweight, and Gable Steveson’s continued heavyweight development against Elisha Ellison.
| Bout | Weight Class | Stakes |
|---|---|---|
| McGregor vs. Holloway | Welterweight | Main event, McGregor’s return |
| Saint Denis vs. Pimblett | Lightweight | Co-main, title implications |
| Sandhagen vs. Bautista | Bantamweight | Ranked matchup |
| Kavanagh vs. Royval | Flyweight | Ranked matchup |
| Steveson vs. Ellison | Heavyweight | Prospect development |
Pros and Cons of McGregor’s Comeback Attempt
Pros
- Proved he could still draw massive pay-per-view and streaming attention after five years away
- Attempted a genuinely difficult division change rather than an easy tune-up fight
- Generated the single biggest storyline of International Fight Week, driving traffic to the entire card
Cons
- Coming off a multi year layoff and a serious leg injury into a tougher weight class was always a significant risk
- The loss, combined with a new knee surgery, puts real doubt on whether he fights again
- Public refund requests after a clean loss haven’t gone over well with fans or bettors
Common Mistakes People Are Making About the McGregor vs Holloway 2 Result
Assuming McGregor is done for good is a common one. Nothing has been officially announced, and Dana White saying the future is uncertain is very different from a retirement announcement. Dismissing Holloway’s win as expected is another mistake, since Holloway made his welterweight debut in this fight, meaning he beat a legend in unfamiliar territory rather than in a favorable matchup on paper. And treating the refund request as a real possibility doesn’t hold up either. Sportsbooks settle bets based on the official result, not fighter complaints after the fact, so there’s no realistic path to voided wagers here.
Expert Tips for Following the McGregor Storyline
Watch for any official statement from McGregor’s camp about the knee surgery timeline before speculating on a return fight. If a return does happen, expect a drop back down to a lighter weight class rather than another welterweight test, given how this one went. Track Holloway’s next move closely too, since a win over McGregor at a new weight class could reasonably put him in the welterweight rankings conversation. For another comeback story with real stakes attached, see our recap of the LeBron James 76ers signing.
FAQ
Who won McGregor vs. Holloway 2 at UFC 329? The McGregor vs Holloway 2 result was a win for Max Holloway on July 11, 2026, in the fighters’ first meeting since 2013 and Holloway’s debut at welterweight.
Is Conor McGregor retiring after UFC 329? Nothing has been officially confirmed. McGregor needs knee surgery following the fight, and UFC CEO Dana White said he’s uncertain what comes next for McGregor’s career.
When was McGregor and Holloway’s first fight? They first fought in August 2013 at UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen, a featherweight bout that McGregor won by unanimous decision.
Why was McGregor out of action for five years? McGregor hadn’t competed since breaking his leg at UFC 264 in July 2021, making UFC 329 his first fight back after the injury.
Did McGregor get his bet refunds after losing? No indication that sportsbooks plan to issue refunds. McGregor has publicly asked for the loss to be overturned and bets voided, but this hasn’t been granted.
What weight class did McGregor fight at in UFC 329? McGregor competed at welterweight, 170 pounds, a new division for both him and Holloway, who was also making his welterweight debut.
Bottom Line
This wasn’t the storybook comeback anyone wanted, McGregor included. Five years, a broken leg, and a jump up in weight class is an enormous ask for anyone, legend status or not, and Holloway made him pay for it. The bigger story behind the McGregor vs Holloway 2 result isn’t the loss itself, it’s the knee surgery and the very real uncertainty about whether we see McGregor back in the octagon at all. Until there’s an official word from his camp, everything else is speculation, and given how many times this sport has surprised us, don’t assume the story’s over just because the scorecards didn’t go his way.
