Dana White denies timing Conor McGregor announcement to counter MVP event

On July 16, UFC president Dana White said the UFC 329 headliner announcement was unrelated to a rival event, addressing speculation about its timing. The Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway rematch was confirmed during UFC Fight Night 276 as Francis Ngannou walked to face Philipe Lins at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. White said the news posted as soon as the bout was finalized, not to divert attention from Most Valuable Promotions' first MMA card featuring "Rousey vs. Carano." The booking had been rumored and was expected by some during the UFC 328 broadcast one week earlier. UFC 329 is set for T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and marks McGregor's first Octagon appearance since July 2021.