Whether you’re tuning in for the long-awaited return of “The Notorious” or looking forward to the debut of an Olympic gold medalist, here is the deep dive into what to expect on fight night.
The Main Event: McGregor vs. Holloway 2
Thirteen years ago, a young Conor McGregor and Max Holloway met in the featherweight division at a UFC Fight Night in Boston. McGregor took the unanimous decision that night, but the versions of both men stepping into the Octagon at UFC 329 are entirely different beasts.
This time, they meet at welterweight (170 lbs). For McGregor, this marks his first walk to the cage since his devastating leg break against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. For the former featherweight champion and BMF titleholder Max Holloway, it’s a chance to avenge a loss from his youth while cementing his legacy across multiple weight classes.
The Odds: Ring rust is a real factor. The oddsmakers currently have Holloway as a heavy -450 favorite, with McGregor sitting as a +330 underdog.
The Co-Main Event: Pimblett’s Redemption
If the main event wasn’t enough, the co-main brings the fireworks to the lightweight division. Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett returns to face France’s Benoît Saint Denis. Pimblett is looking to bounce back and prove he belongs in the upper echelon of the 155-pound division following his recent defeat to Justin Gaethje at UFC 324, while Saint Denis aims to steal the Scouser’s immense hype.
Undercard Bangers & Storylines
UFC 329 isn’t a two-fight show. The matchmakers have engineered a card with massive divisional implications:
- Bantamweight Contender Clash: Cory Sandhagen meets Mario Bautista in a high-stakes rematch that could easily decide the next challenger for the 135-pound strap.
- The Olympic Debut: Highly-touted wrestling prospect and Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson (3-0 MMA) makes his official UFC debut against heavyweight Elisha Ellison.
- Whittaker Moves Up: Former middleweight king Robert Whittaker is leaving 185 pounds behind. He makes his light heavyweight (205 lbs) debut against veteran Nikita Krylov.
- Flyweight Chaos: Brandon Royval takes on Lone’er Kavanagh, who is riding high off a massive upset over Brandon Moreno.
- Guaranteed Violence: Fan-favorite lightweights King Green and Terrance McKinney are set to clash in a bout that oddsmakers doubt will see a third round.
Where to Watch
The broadcast era has officially shifted. UFC 329 will stream exclusively on Paramount+ (available on both Essential and Premium tiers). In a massive win for the fans, there is no pay-per-view fee — the entire event is included in the standard Paramount+ subscription.
Start Times (Saturday, July 11, 2026):
- Main Card: 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT
- Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
Authors and Outlets Quoted: Details and fight card confirmations were synthesized from reports by Drew Beaupre (Sports Illustrated/MMA Knockout), FIGHTMAG, and the Sneak Peak Staff (Paramount+).
Leo Falsafi is a digital marketing veteran and senior journalist at Virlan.co, where he covers the intersection of digital marketing, gaming, and breaking US trending news. With nearly two decades of hands-on experience in SEO and digital strategy, Leo has consulted for and scaled hundreds of companies. His deep industry roots allow him to deliver sharp, fact-checked insights and analysis on the trends shaping today’s digital landscape.
