Plans may have changed when it comes to revealing Conor McGregor’s UFC return.
The Irishman is reportedly in line to make his long-awaited mixed martial arts comeback at UFC 329, which closes out the 2026 edition of International Fight Week in Las Vegas this July.
After months of speculation about his return, which has followed years of comeback talk falling through, McGregor vs Holloway was reported by Helwani as being close to finalized for the summer.
And that apparently remains the case despite UFC 328 passing by without the expected confirmation from the promotion.
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Ariel Helwani doubles down on Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway report after announcement delay
While hosting a live show ahead of last Saturday’s UFC 328 event in Newark, Helwani suggested that McGregor’s return was in line to be announced during the broadcast.
The Canadian journalist has been getting stick from some corners of the MMA community after that did not turn out to be the case.
He addressed the absence of an official announcement during Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show, theorizing that his report may have led to the UFC further delaying McGregor’s comeback reveal.
“In the flow of our live show on Friday, I did say, ‘I can’t wait, in 24 hours I’m gonna shove it down all your throats,’” Helwani said, referencing the doubt some have had about his McGregor vs Holloway claim.
“I can’t dictate or decide when they’re going to announce things. That’s arbitrary. What I can tell you are the facts. I will never get wrong fight bookings, matchups, things of that nature.
“Packages, all that, I don’t know when they’re going to do that,” he continued. “Very likely they (UFC) see that, ‘Let’s save it, we don’t want him to be right.’”
Helwani insisted that his report on the matchup remains 100 percent accurate, and will be proven as such soon enough.
“I’m telling you, if you don’t believe me, you’re gonna be proven wrong.”
Helwani had a public fallout with the UFC a decade ago after announcing Brock Lesnar’s return at UFC 200 before the organization had.
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McGregor’s trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in 2021 marked his last time entering the Octagon. ‘The Notorious’ exited on a stretcher after breaking his leg near the end of round one.
He’s since had a scheduled comeback against Michael Chandler fall through in 2024 after breaking a toe during his training camp.
Now, it appears that the former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion is closer than ever to finally making his return to action.