Conor McGregor returns to UFC after five years but comeback comes with uncertainty

[p]He faces a rematch with Max Holloway, but instead of certainty, there are doubts.[/p][p]Can he silence his critics one more time, or will he finally confirm that his greatest achievements are a thing of the past?[/p][h2]The times have changed[/h2][p]When [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcgregor-conor/zmTtk3ch/"]Conor McGregor[/a] steps into the octagon on the night of July 11th at UFC 329 against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/holloway-max/zyarAfz1/"]Max Holloway[/a], it will be his first fight since the summer of 2021. Five years is a very long time in professional MMA, and the sport has changed significantly in that period.[/p][p]During McGregor's absence, several stars of his era either retired or faded into the background. New names have come to the fore and now set the pace.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/makhachev-islam/Y5Xm0ySb/"]Islam Makhachev[/a] has established himself as one of the most dominant figures in the organisation, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/topuria-ilia/bBTa66GB/"]Ilia Topuria[/a] has become one of the biggest stars in the lower weight divisions, and fighters like [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tsarukyan-arman/OWgAXDzd/"]Arman Tsarukyan[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pimblett-paddy/venbfzbn/"]Paddy Pimblett[/a] have also broken into the elite. At the same time, the UFC has built its marketing around a broader group of champions, not just a single megastar.[/p][embed guid="36e25e7b-4de7-4e8f-837e-0cc43777f1b2" url="https://x.com/ufc/status/2072062871370904051" social-type="twitter" /][p]McGregor was once the very definition of success. He was the first fighter to hold titles in two weight divisions simultaneously, and his fights broke records for both viewership and PPV sales. Now, however, most experts are much more cautious about his return.[/p][p]There are several reasons for this. Besides the long layoff, age, a serious leg injury, and the question of whether he can maintain the intensity needed to compete with the world’s best after years away from the cage all play a role.[/p][p]Moreover, his last four UFC fights have brought just one win, a stark contrast to the period when he seemed almost unbeatable.[/p][h2]Unsuccessful comeback attempts[/h2][p]McGregor’s comeback has become one of the most postponed stories in UFC history.[/p][p]After breaking his leg in the third fight with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/poirier-dustin/ALqarTjO/"]Dustin Poirier[/a], he faced a long rehabilitation. In 2023, he was the main face of the reality show The Ultimate Fighter, where he coached against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/chandler-michael/E7cTtKs2/"]Michael Chandler[/a]. Their fight was expected to happen that same year, but an agreement was never reached.[/p][p]Another attempt came in 2024. The UFC announced a McGregor versus Chandler bout at UFC 303, which was supposed to mark the grand return of the organisation’s biggest star. However, just weeks before the event, the Irishman withdrew due to a toe injury and the fight was cancelled.[/p][embed guid="0f0312fb-e04e-4bd5-afa5-5632289d698e" url="https://x.com/ufc/status/2055836068432519479" social-type="twitter" /][p]This was followed by another period of speculation. Various opponents were mentioned, from Chandler to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/oliveira-charles/hfS2SifI/"]Charles Oliveira[/a] and other big names, but no date was ever finalised. Only now has the UFC finally confirmed his return against Max Holloway in Las Vegas.[/p][h2]Rematch of a legendary fight[/h2][p]Their first meeting took place back in August 2013 at UFC Fight Night in Boston. At the time, it was a clash between two young talents who had no idea what careers awaited them.[/p][p]McGregor won by unanimous decision, even though he suffered a knee injury during the fight that significantly limited his movement. Despite this, he managed to control the bout and secure one of the key victories on his path to the championship.[/p][embed guid="50378f0c-0b91-49d8-af38-7e669b391205" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCOy-PG8EIw" social-type="youtube" /][p]Holloway was only 21 at the time and still gaining experience. But the inexperienced Hawaiian prospect gradually became one of the best featherweights in UFC history. Over the following years, he set the record for significant strikes landed, won the championship, and won fans over with his exciting fighting style and incredible toughness.[/p][p]The rematch comes 13 years later, but both fighters are now completely different athletes than when they first met.[/p][h2]Fame overshadowed by problems outside the cage[/h2][p]In recent years, Conor McGregor’s name has not been associated only with sport. More often than not, the talk has been about controversies and legal issues rather than his training.[/p][p]The Irishman has faced several incidents outside the octagon, with major attention drawn to a civil case in Ireland regarding an accusation of sexual assault from 2018. In 2024, the court ruled in favour of the plaintiff, and McGregor was found civilly liable, and he subsequently lost his appeal. He has consistently denied the allegations.[/p][p]Further legal troubles came in connection with an alleged incident during the NBA finals in Miami, USA. In January 2025, a woman filed a civil lawsuit claiming McGregor sexually assaulted her on June 9th, 2023, in the men’s toilets at the Kaseya Centre after the game between the Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets. However, after an investigation, the local prosecutor did not file criminal charges due to a lack of evidence.[/p][embed guid="f57c40ed-5c5b-4b62-b98b-e1574805d879" url="https://x.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/2071081495775822257" social-type="twitter" /][p]In December 2025, the plaintiff voluntarily withdrew her civil lawsuit and the federal court closed the case for good. Once again, the Irishman denied all allegations from the outset.[/p][p]In addition, throughout his career, he has been linked to various public altercations and investigations stemming from incidents outside the sporting arena. While most of these had no direct impact on his UFC career, they have significantly damaged his public image. For many fans, McGregor is no longer just an exceptional fighter, but also one of the most controversial figures in world sport.[/p][h2]Who is the favourite? Activity favours Holloway, explosiveness still with McGregor[/h2][p]On paper, the odds slightly favour Holloway. The Hawaiian has remained extremely active during McGregor’s absence, taking on several tough fights against the very best and is still among the most complete fighters in the UFC.[/p][p]His biggest weapons are his high volume of strikes, excellent cardio, and his ability to maintain a high pace throughout the fight. If the bout goes long, Holloway’s chances will likely increase.[/p][embed guid="9646daad-ff23-490a-a0c8-35187646725c" url="https://x.com/UFC_CA/status/2072636401452187884" social-type="twitter" /][p]McGregor, however, still possesses what made him a global superstar. His exceptionally accurate left hand, great timing, and ability to finish a fight with a single combination make him a threat to any opponent. The question remains whether he has managed to retain these strengths in their most dangerous form after five years away from top-level competition.[/p][p]That’s why this is one of the most unpredictable matchups in recent years. If McGregor can resemble his best version from 2015 to 2016, he could shock the world once again. But if the long layoff and physical limitations after a serious injury show, Holloway has everything it takes to confirm his status as favourite and finally end McGregor’s hopes.[/p][image alt="Author of the article." id="2d87c05e-594d-4429-adbc-c27acf39dffe" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="2516e69b-9be9-4b1f-b520-49e211c3ca39" original-width="1200" original-height="380" /]