MMA insider Ariel Helwani continues to insist that the UFC is almost ready to announce that Conor McGregor will make his Octagon return against Max ‘Blessed’ Holloway in the UFC 329 headliner at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on July 11.

BetOnline is buying what Helwani is selling, posting betting odds for this potential matchup. As of Monday afternoon, the book had Holloway (27-9 MMA, 23-9 UFC) installed as a -330 favorite, leaving ‘The Notorious’ as a +270 underdog.

McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) hasn’t tasted victory since scoring a 40-second knockout win over Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone at UFC 246 on Jan. 18 of 2020. He hasn’t competed since losing via TKO to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 on July 10 of 2021.

McGregor, who will turn 38 on July 14, suffered a broken lower tibia in the final seconds of the loss to Poirier. He was scheduled to face Michael Chandler at UFC 303 on June 29 of 2024.

However, McGregor pulled out of the bout on June 13 due to a broken toe sustained in training camp.

The 34-year-old Holloway is off a unanimous decision loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 326 on March 7. If this fight comes to fruition, the Hawaiian will be looking to avenge a UD loss to McGregor (30-27, 30-27, 30-26) at UFC Boston on Aug. 17 of 2013.

That first showdown took place in the featherweight division. Both fighters would eventually become 145-pound champions, but the rematch would be contested at welterweight.

McGregor owns a 2-1 record in three appearances at welterweight. He posted wins over Cerrone and Nate Diaz, but the Irishman also lost to Diaz via second-round submission in a welterweight scrap.

Holloway would be making his 170-pound debut.

Holloway owns notable career victories over the likes of Poirier, Justin Gaethje, The Korean Zombie, Arnold Allen, Yair Rodriguez, Calvin Kattar, Frankie Edgar, Brian Ortega, Jose Aldo (twice), Anthony Pettis, Ricardo Lamas, Jeremy Stephens, Oliveira, Cub Swanson, Clay Collard, Andre Fili and Leonard Garcia.

With seven wins over former UFC champions already on his resume, Holloway would be seeking an eighth against McGregor.

McGregor has career wins over Poirier, Cerrone, Eddie Alvarez, Diaz, Aldo, Chad Mendes, Dennis Siver and Marcus Brimage. He would be going for a fifth win over a former champion.