Conor McGregor made his long-awaited return to the Octagon at UFC 329 after nearly five years away from active competition. Held on July 11, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas during International Fight Week, the event featured McGregor’s highly anticipated welterweight rematch against Max Holloway, revisiting their 2013 clash that ended with a unanimous decision victory for the Irish star. The fight marked McGregor’s first appearance since suffering a broken leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264, while Holloway stepped into the welterweight division for the first time.
Beyond the action inside the cage, UFC 329 was expected to be one of the promotion’s biggest financial events, largely driven by McGregor’s global popularity. While official fighter purses remain undisclosed, reports suggested McGregor could earn a base purse of around $15 million, with additional bonuses and incentives potentially increasing his payout. Holloway was also projected to receive one of the biggest paydays of his career, with estimates placing his earnings near $3 million. With stars like Paddy Pimblett, Benoît Saint Denis and other featured fighters sharing the spotlight, the event created major earning opportunities across the card.
Conor McGregor and Max Holloway’s Projected UFC 329 Earnings Revealed
Conor McGregor returned to the Octagon at UFC 329 after more than five years away from competition, facing Max Holloway in a highly anticipated rematch. The pair first met in 2013, when McGregor secured a unanimous decision victory early in both of their careers. Their second meeting headlined a blockbuster UFC 329 card in Las Vegas, with the event expected to generate massive earnings for the fighters involved.
While the UFC does not publicly reveal official purses until after events, reports have suggested that McGregor is set for a huge payday. The former two-division champion is reportedly expected to earn more than $15 million for his comeback fight against Holloway, with additional bonuses, sponsorships and potential pay-per-view incentives likely adding to his final earnings. McGregor’s manager Audie Attar previously indicated that his client would make “multiples over anybody in the UFC, including Zuffa Boxing,” highlighting the scale of his return.
Max Holloway is also expected to receive one of the biggest payouts of his career, although his earnings are not expected to match McGregor’s. After reportedly earning between $2 million and $4 million for his previous bout against Charles Oliveira, Holloway’s UFC 329 purse is projected to fall in the $3 million to $4 million range or potentially higher. With UFC 329 setting records for event revenue, both fighters are positioned for significant financial rewards from one of the promotion’s biggest nights.
Paddy Pimblett, Benoît Saint-Denis and Other UFC 329 Fighter Payouts Revealed
| Fighter | Estimated UFC 329 Payout |
|---|---|
| Paddy Pimblett | Around $1.5 million+ |
| Benoît Saint-Denis | Around $400,000 (projected) |
| Cory Sandhagen | Around $300,000–$500,000 |
| Mario Bautista | Not officially disclosed (estimated similar mid-level bantamweight range) |
| Robert Whittaker | Around $300,000–$400,000 |
| Nikita Krylov | Around $90,000 |
| Gable Steveson | Lower six-figure range (projected UFC debut purse) |
| Cody Garbrandt | Around $100,000–$200,000 |
| Adrian Yanez | Around $100,000–$200,000 |
Note: The UFC does not officially disclose fighter purses, so these figures are based on previous reported earnings, industry estimates, and projected payouts.
