Conor McGregor is scheduled to make a return to the UFC with a rematch against Max Holloway. However, the Irishman’s manager has revealed that the American was not the first-choice opponent for his comeback fight.

McGregor will put an end to his five-year MMA hiatus with a UFC 329 bout against Holloway on the 11th of July at the T-Moblie Arena in Las Vegas. The Irishman hasn’t fought in the Octagon since his devastating loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021, during which the fight was stopped in the first round by the cageside doctor after Notorious suffered a broken lower tibia.

McGregor was then scheduled to fight Michael Chandler in June 2024 after the pair faced off as coaches on the 31st season of the reality television series The Ultimate Fighter. However, a broken toe suffered by the Irishman saw the bout cancelled just weeks before.

The Dublin-native’s comeback fight will feature as the co-main event in Nevada, alongside the lightweight match-up between Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett and Benoit Saint-Denis, while heavyweight prospect Gable Steveson will face-off against Elisha Ellison.

Conor McGregor’s Manager Speaks About UFC 329

Speaking to MMAJunkie.com at the Usyk vs Verhoeven boxing event in Giza, Egypt, McGregor’s manager, Audie Attar, spoke about the choice of opponent for his client’s UFC return.

“I think, from a Max Holloway perspective, we know we got one on Max, and he wants to get that back. We know they faced each other when they were 145ers, and we know that Max is game, and he’s going to put on a great performance. We just felt it was the right match-up.

However, while McGregor will hope to recreate the success he experienced in his first meeting with Holloway, Attar has revealed that he was not the Irishman’s first-choice opponent.

Max Holloway Not First-Choice Opponent For Return

“Conor really wanted to give [his comeback fight] to Michael Chandler. He just felt Michael deserved it, having gone through the show and experienced that camp, the unfortunate injury and the cancellation of the bout.”

And while McGregor may not be making his comeback against his desired opponent, that is not to say it may not still be on the cards further down the line.

Conor McGregor is set to make his return to the UFC this year with his rematch against Max Holloway scheduled for the 11th of July at UFC 329, and his first interview discussing his comeback has got MMA fans talking.

McGregor‘s return to the UFC will come almost exactly five years since his last fight, a devastating loss in his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier, which saw the fight stopped by the cageside doctor in round one after the Irishman suffered a broken lower tibia while trying to evade his opponent.

McGregor had previously been scheduled to return to the sport in June 2024 at UFC 303 in a bout against Michael Chandler, a fight set up after the pair faced-off as coaches for The Ultimate Fighter 31. However, a broken toe suffered by the Dublin-native saw the fight cancelled.

Nevertheless, as things stand, McGregor will make his return at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, on a card that will see his welterweight rematch against Max Holloway feature as the co-main event, alongside a lightweight showdown between Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett and Benoit Saint-Denis.

Conor McGregor Talks UFC 329 For First Time

In an interview with former US Navy SEAL Robert O’Neill for the Irishman’s new drinks brand Mac Energy, the UFC star spoke on his return to the Octagon.

“July 11th, Sin City, Las Vegas. And the opponent is a man that I have beaten before, in Max Holloway.”

McGregor was quick to recognise his level of opponent, saying: “He is an established fighter, an accomplished fighter. Former UFC world champion, multiple times. Former UFC BMF world champion, so this is a quality opponent and our last bout was martial arts mastery by yours truly, so I plan on doing it again.

A clip of the interview was posted to Reddit, alongside a title saying: “McGregor looks good and talking like a normal, sober person now. He’s back!”

MMA Fans React to Conor McGregor’s Interview

UFC fans were quick to comment on the Irishman’s chances ahead of his return, with one user claiming: “He actually took Max down in that first fight, and honestly, people underestimate Conor’s grappling. I think, in terms of grappling performance against Khabib, he did the best out of most the opponents that Khabib faced.”

“Credit where credit is due, Conor has amazing defence and non-engagement tactics,” another added.

But they were also quick to comment on how good he looked, and how healthy he sounded.

“He seems a little hungry… haven’t seen this Conor for almost a decade,” “Conor sounding locked in no excuses this time,” “Good to see him healthy and training properly again,” and “Win or lose, I hope he stays training. This is the healthiest I’ve seen him in a while,” were all comments made in response to the clip.

Although half a decade may prove to be too long of a break in order to return with any real venom, McGregor’s physical turnaround from the state that he has found himself in over the past few years would suggest that crazier things have happened.

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was involved in a heated public confrontation on Sunday night, just hours after the Premier League season ended.

Footage of a fight involving the Greek billionaire emerged on social media and quickly went viral, with football fans interested to know exactly what happened. Details of the scrap and the identity of the second part have now emerged.

The physical altercation took place in Athens ahead of the EuroLeague basketball final, which saw Olympiacos defeat Real Madrid. It showed the controversial Premier League owner being pulled away, looking absolutely livid.

Who Evangelos Marinakis Was Fighting With in Viral Video

The other man involved in the furious bust-up was Grigoris Dimitriadis, the nephew of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, according to The Sun. The video online shows Marinakis and Dimitriadis shouting at each other before an Olympiacos scarf is thrown towards the latter.

Nottingham Forest’s owner, who relinquished control of the club earlier in the season in case they reached the Champions League, was left with a black eye and torn shirt following the incident. Watch the bust-up below.

Kostas Karapapas, Olympiacos’ vice-president, appeared to get involved in the war of words as security had to stand between the rowing men. Marinakis, who owns Olympiacos’ football and basketball clubs, had the last laugh as his team won 92-85 in the final.

Marinakis Reportedly Speaks Out About Brawl

Greek reports have emerged with further details of what happened and may have sparked the fight. Marinakis and the former Secretary General to the Greek Prime Minister quickly turned physical after heated words were exchanged, according to witnesses.

The Forest and Olympiacos leader even reportedly accused Dimitriadis of ‘making some faces’ before then spitting at him. Per Greek City Times, the 58-year-old said:

The same report claims that lawsuits could be heading Marinakis’ way, with Dimitriadis’ legal team now considering their options. Tensions are said to now be running his in Greece with both men being powerful figures.