The Conor McGregor comeback card has taken a hit after bantamweight Ethyn Ewing was forced to pull out of his fight at UFC 329, just 10 days before the event.
Ewing Withdraws, Replacement Sought
Ewing was scheduled to face Javid Basharat on the undercard of McGregor's return against Max Holloway at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. UFC officials are now seeking a replacement opponent for Basharat, who is undefeated with six wins since his Dana White's Contender Series debut in 2022. Ewing, who was looking to extend his unbeaten UFC record to 3-0, has not disclosed the reason for his withdrawal.
Additional Card Changes
The UFC also had to find a replacement for Cody Durden after Ode Osbourne pulled out due to injury. Durden will now face Alessandro Costa, who last fought in June 2026, finishing Matt Schnell in the first round.
McGregor vs. Holloway Headlines
McGregor will make his long-awaited return to the octagon after a five-year absence, having broken his leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier. He faces former featherweight champion Max Holloway in a welterweight bout. The card also features Paddy Pimblett against Benoit Saint-Denis.
McGregor Confident
Speaking about the matchup, McGregor said: “Max is a durable fighter with great skill. Not on my level, however. I am a level above. In fact, multiple levels above. Skill-wise, mental-wise, physical-wise. We’re at 170 pounds. There’s a few facets into this. Max has been a busy body in the game. In fact, he’s the most time spent inside the octagon, eight and a half hours, which is a staggering of time. For me, I kind of look at it saying it means you can’t finish people, you know. So, however he’s never fought at 170 pounds. This is a 170-pound bout.”
