Conor McGregor Delighted About Pay for UFC 329 Return: “They Honored Me Finally”

Conor McGregor is ecstatic about his upcoming payday for the Max Holloway rematch in his return to the octagon at UFC 329.

Conor McGregor Delighted About Pay for UFC 329 Return: “They Honored Me Finally”

Conor McGregor is delighted with his UFC 329 pay [via MMA Fighting]

In Short
  • Conor McGregor expressed satisfaction with his UFC 329 paycheck, stating the organization "honored" him.
  • He is set to rematch Max Holloway in July, marking his return to the octagon after a lengthy absence.
  • Despite concerns about his inactivity, McGregor insists he is in peak form and fully committed to training for the fight.

The UFC’s fighter pay remains a contentious subject for decades now. Many within the MMA sphere have alleged that the company underpays its fighters, comparing it to the revenue share enjoyed by athletes in other sports. However, Conor McGregor has recently come out to actually laud the UFC for how much they will pay him ahead of his return to the octagon.

‘The Notorious’ has been out of action since 2021 after shattering his shin against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. In 2024, the Irishman had recovered from this brutal injury and was scheduled to fight Michael Chandler. However, a broken toe put him back on the shelf with the Chandler bout falling through.

But now, the 37-year-old returns to the octagon for only his 4th-ever bout in the welterweight division. McGregor is booked to rematch Max Holloway at UFC 329 in July, and he could not be happier with the pay for his upcoming return. In a segment for Mac Energy, his new energy drink brand, the former double champion revealed his elation at his UFC 329 paycheck.

My body’s fresh. My mind is sharp. I’m ready to come back. I’ve got a great opponent. I’ve got a great deal off the UFC. I’m very, very happy. They honored me, finally. So, July 11th, and the opponent is a man that I have beaten before in Max Holloway.

Conor McGregor via Mac Energy

Conor McGregor is easily the biggest superstar the UFC has ever had. UFC CEO Dana White even likened him to boxing icon Muhammad Ali, showing how highly he thinks of the Irishman. Moreover, with McGregor also being the biggest draw in MMA, it’s no surprise that the UFC is “honoring” him with a lucrative contract for his return.

The Dublin native has earned over $41 million in his career so far, in disclosed income per Tapology. However, the actual number could be much higher, considering most UFC fighters don’t disclose their entire earnings. As such, the Road House star’s net worth has been reported to be around $250 million as of 2026.

Many have blamed McGregor’s incredible wealth as the reason for his inactivity and perceived lack of focus. But in the aforementioned clip, the former double champion revealed his commitment to the upcoming fight by explaining that he was sleeping in the gym due to intense preparation. To that end, the 37-year-old believes he is better than ever heading into this comeback fight at UFC 329.

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Conor McGregor insists on being in peak form for his upcoming return at UFC 329

As mentioned above, Conor McGregor has not fought since 2021. But it has been even longer since the Irishman’s last win, with it coming in early 2020 against ‘Cowboy’ Donald Cerrone. Nonetheless, McGregor believes that he will show an improved version of himself at the T-Mobile Arena this July.

Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor (via MMA Fighting)

Despite his horrific injury and subsequent years of inactivity, the Irishman insists that he is returning at his best at UFC 329. The 37-year-old revealed this as he addressed his upcoming return in an Instagram post.

Thank you for all the love, support, and encouragement over the last few days, people! I am feeling very energised entering intense training camp because of it!… I am better than ever, and I relish the opportunity to once again show my mastery in martial arts to the world.

Conor McGregor via Instagram

Despite this reassurance from McGregor, fans have remained unconvinced of his current abilities. Moreover, UFC legend Chris Weidman, who suffered an injury similar to the Irishman’s leg break, painted a bleak future for his comeback. Even so, ‘Mystic Mac’ seems beyond confident in his present skill set.

The former featherweight champion appears fully committed to training, with the contract for this fight also settled. McGregor doesn’t seem to have the problem Max Holloway was having of being in training camp despite not having a contract finalized. All in all, the stage seems set for Conor McGregor’s return in July during this International Fight Week.

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