Controversial UFC superstar Conor McGregor announces shock comeback to competition after five years away

Conor McGregor has booked his return to the bright lights of the UFC, with the controversial superstar to make his comeback five years after he last fought, on July 11 in Las Vegas.

The UFC announced on Sunday (AEST) that McGregor will face Max Holloway in a blockbuster bout years in the making.

The featherweight fight will serve as a rematch of their August 2013 clash, which was just McGregor's second fight in the UFC.

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In that initial meeting in Boston, McGregor defeated Holloway via a three-round decision but the Irishman suffered a torn ACL during the bout. He still managed to outwrestle Holloway to secure the victory.

The upcoming July fight is set to headline UFC's annual International Fight Week event.

McGregor (22-6) has not fought since suffering a gruesome broken leg in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021.

However, the 37-year-old has not stepped out of the spotlight during his hiatus and his time away from the sport has been marred by controversy.

In November 2024, an Irish jury found him liable in a civil sexual assault case stemming from a 2018 incident. He subsequently appealed the ruling but lost in Ireland's High Court.

He also served an 18-month suspension for failing to disclose his whereabouts under the UFC's drug policy, with the suspension coming to an end in March, 2026.

Outside the courtroom, McGregor also made headlines with a bizarre and short-lived jump into politics.

The UFC star publicly threw his hat in the ring for the Irish presidential elections before humiliatingly withdrawing his candidacy before the public even began voting.