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Conor McGregor's UFC 329 Return Saved by Debutant John Garza

2026-07-06 · Conor McGregor · Player Focus

Conor McGregor's UFC 329 Return Saved by Debutant John Garza

Conor McGregor's UFC 329 return card was saved by debutant John Garza, who stepped in on short notice to face undefeated Farid Basharat.

What happened?

The UFC struggled to find a replacement for Ethyn Ewing, who pulled out of his bout against Basharat due to an injury.

Why it matters for Conor McGregor

Garza's decision to step in saved a crucial fight on McGregor's comeback event, which is set to take place on July 6, 2026.

What comes next?

Basharat will now face Garza at 135 lbs, looking to extend his six-fight winning streak in the UFC.

Garza, a 23-year-old fighter from Houston, Texas, has shown promise in his bouts, winning four fights in a row against credible opponents like Marcelo Reyes and Josh Walker.

Basharat, on the other hand, has defeated opponents like Victor Hugo, Chris Gutierrez, and Jean Matsumoto in his last three fights.

The Afghan-English fighter claimed in an MMA Fighting interview that his next fight is going to be his last fight under his UFC contract.

With Garza stepping in, Basharat will now have the opportunity to make a statement at UFC 329 and earn a new contract.

The event will take place at the T-Mobile Arena, with Garza fighting on less than a week's notice.

Farid Basharat's original opponent, Ethyn Ewing, had previously accepted a fight on short notice against Michael Wellmaker at UFC 322, winning via unanimous decision.

UFC 329 also features an exciting flyweight bout between Ode Osbourne and Cody Durden, although Osbourne suffered an undisclosed injury and was ruled out of the contest.

Durden issued an open challenge on social media for anyone willing to face him at the event, and he has finally found an adversary.

The UFC 329 card has undergone changes, but Conor McGregor's return remains a highly anticipated event.

Conor McGregor's comeback is set to be a major talking point, with the UFC 329 event providing a platform for him to make a statement.

The event will be closely watched, with fans eager to see McGregor in action and the other fighters competing on the card.

Basharat's fight against Garza will be an interesting matchup, with the undefeated fighter looking to extend his winning streak.

Garza's decision to step in on short notice has saved the fight, providing a exciting matchup for fans to look forward to.

The UFC 329 event is shaping up to be an exciting one, with Conor McGregor's return and the other fights on the card providing plenty of talking points.

More Conor McGregor news →