Against the odds, the UFC's biggest personality is...
Key takeaways
- It was an old trick using an old fighter -- suck the attention away from a competitor and back onto White's promotion.
- "Yeah, that's cool, drop it during our event," Paul said.
- Pressed or not, social media was quickly abuzz about McGregor's return against Max Holloway on July 11 at UFC 329 in Las Vegas.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Former double champion Conor Mc Gregor will return to the Octagon for the first time since 2021 at International Fight Week in Las Vegas on July 11. Jason Silva/Zuma Press/Icon Sportswire Dan Wetzel May 18, 2026, 02:12 PM ETClose Dan Wetzel is a senior writer focused on investigative reporting, news analysis and feature storytelling.Multiple Authors Email Print Open Extended Reactions. The clearest sign of the power Conor Mc Gregor still possesses came Saturday night, when UFC CEO Dana White took to Instagram to announce the Irishman's return to the Octagon just as the main card of the first MMA event to broadcast live on Netflix from Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions was ramping up.
It was an old trick using an old fighter -- suck the attention away from a competitor and back onto White's promotion.
"Yeah, that's cool, drop it during our event," Paul said. "That just shows how pressed they are."