Conor McGregor Already Knows His Next Fight Date, and He Says It’s ‘Ridiculous’
Conor McGregor returns to the UFC this Saturday for the first time in almost five years. He’s already looking past it, because he says he knows exactly when his next fight is, and he doesn’t love the answer.
McGregor faces Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It’s his first bout since he broke his leg at UFC 264 back in July 2021. And apparently it’s the second-to-last fight on his current UFC deal.
The next date is locked in
Asked about what comes after Holloway, McGregor didn’t dodge. He said the date is already set.
“I am contracted and I have both dates. April 2027. It’s locked in.”
That’s the part that clearly bugs him. McGregor fights Saturday, and per his contract he then waits roughly nine months to compete again. For a fighter who has spent five years on the sidelines, sitting out most of another year sounds like torture.
He’s called the gap “ridiculous,” and it’s easy to see why. The moment he finally gets the itch back, the schedule tells him to wait until spring 2027.
Why the wait, and why it might not stick
The likely reason is simple business. Two dates left on a contract means the UFC can space them out to maximize the buildup, the pay-per-view windows, and the hype around each one. McGregor is still one of the biggest draws the sport has ever had, and drawn-out anticipation sells.
That said, contracts like this usually leave room to move. If McGregor wins Saturday and wants to run it back sooner, there’s a decent chance a clause lets him fight before April 2027. Nothing about McGregor’s career has ever run on a tidy timeline.
Fans are split on the whole thing
The reaction has been part excitement, part eye-roll.
“Man hasn’t fought in 5 years and he’s already complaining about waiting 9 months. Never change, Conor.”
“If he actually only fights twice more, that’s a sad way for that run to end. Give us more.”
Others just want to see Saturday first before anyone plans April 2027:
“Let’s see how the leg holds up against Holloway before we book the next one.”
What’s actually at stake Saturday
Before any of this matters, McGregor has to get through Holloway, and it’s a real test. The two fought all the way back in 2013 at featherweight, when a young McGregor won a unanimous decision. Holloway is a completely different fighter now, one of the most durable and high-volume strikers in the sport.
For a full breakdown of the matchup, our UFC 329 preview covers how the two stack up and why McGregor is facing a guy he’s already beaten once. And if you followed the sport’s strangest recent business story, revisit the UFC’s White House fight card fallout.
For more on McGregor’s return and the rest of International Fight Week, follow our Trending section.
Five years away, one fight to go before the last one already on the calendar. No wonder he wants to move it up.
