Conor McGregor Makes History With Massive UFC 329 Gate
McGregor's return to the UFC after five years away helped set an all-time gate record of $25 million in Las Vegas.
Conor McGregor is back. After five years away from fighting, the famous mixed martial arts star is set to return to the octagon — the eight-sided cage where UFC fights take place — in Las Vegas. He will face Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 329. The event has already made history before a single punch has been thrown.
UFC president Dana White announced that UFC 329 brought in a $25 million gate, which means the total amount of money fans paid for tickets. That is a new record for any UFC event ever. It shows just how much fans want to see McGregor fight again, even after such a long break.
McGregor is now part of three of the top four highest-earning UFC events in history. UFC 205 came in third, bringing in $17.7 million — that was the night McGregor beat Eddie Alvarez by TKO in the second round. UFC 229, where McGregor lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov, brought in about $17.2 million and sits fourth on the all-time list.
McGregor's last fight was at UFC 264 in July 2021. He lost to Dustin Poirier when a doctor stopped the match in the first round. That was his second loss in a row against Poirier, and he has not fought since.
His opponent, Max Holloway, last fought in March at UFC 326 and lost to Charles Oliveira by unanimous decision. That means all three judges scored the fight the same way. Because Holloway fought more recently, he is less likely to be rusty when he steps into the octagon.
Before that loss, Holloway beat Dustin Poirier at UFC 318 last July by unanimous decision. Poirier is a fighter who defeated McGregor twice. That shared connection makes the McGregor vs. Holloway matchup even more interesting to fans.
Many people wonder if McGregor has trained hard enough to compete at the highest level again. Some believe he has been working seriously and will come in ready to fight. Others think he may care more about putting on a show and earning his paycheck than actually winning.
Most betting sites, including DraftKings Sportsbook, list Holloway as the favorite to win. The most predicted way the fight ends is by knockout or technical knockout. Fans are eager to see if McGregor can pull off a big upset, or if he will suffer his third loss in a row.
It goes to show how big a draw McGregor is for mixed martial arts, as his involvement after a five-year hiatus has many people paying attention.
Comprehension quiz preview
1. How much money did UFC 329 bring in at the gate?
2. Who is Conor McGregor fighting in the main event of UFC 329?
3. When was McGregor's last UFC fight before UFC 329?