UFC president Dana White has confidently predicted that Conor McGregor's highly anticipated comeback fight against Max Holloway will shatter the promotion's all-time gate record. The former dual-weight champion, who has not competed since breaking his leg in a 2021 defeat to Dustin Poirier, is expected to return to the octagon on July 11 during International Fight Week in Las Vegas.
McGregor's long-awaited return
The 37-year-old Irish fighter was initially scheduled to face Michael Chandler two years ago but withdrew due to an injury sustained in training. His last victory came in 2020, when he dispatched Donald Cerrone in just 60 seconds. Despite widespread skepticism about his comeback, the UFC announced his return in May, and the fight against Holloway has generated immense buzz.
White's bold prediction
Speaking about McGregor's drawing power, White said: 'Listen, Conor, you guys know as well as I do. He's a powerhouse. When he's involved, tickets go flying. As soon as they went on sale, they were gone. Power Slap sold out in an hour, so we added more tickets and they sold out in 15 minutes. This fight should break the gate record, which is currently held by The Sphere event.'
The current record, set at the Sphere in Las Vegas two years ago, generated $21,829,245 in ticket sales for a bantamweight title fight between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O'Malley. McGregor's 2016 victory over Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 ranks second with $17.7 million, while his 2018 clash with Khabib Nurmagomedov sits third at $17.18 million.
Training camp intensity
McGregor is fully immersed in training camp and appears highly motivated. In a recent social media post, he expressed gratitude for the support and stated: 'I am feeling very energised entering intense training camp. I am better than ever and relish the opportunity to once again show my mastery in martial arts to the world.'
The welterweight bout against Holloway is expected to be a highlight of International Fight Week, with fans eagerly anticipating the return of one of the sport's biggest stars.
