Conor McGregor's return to the Octagon after nearly five years ended in disaster Saturday night when the former two-division champion appeared to suffer a knee injury just seconds into his main event fight against Max Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas.
McGregor, who had not fought since July 2021, opened the bout aggressively, attempting a running kick and then a head kick. He appeared to slip on both attempts. Holloway quickly capitalized, taking top position and landing a right hand before McGregor worked his way back to his feet. Moments later, McGregor collapsed to the canvas after throwing a kick with his right leg, which visibly buckled beneath him. The referee immediately waved off the fight, awarding Holloway a TKO victory just 69 seconds into the first round.
During the broadcast, UFC CEO Dana White pointed to a replay that appeared to show the moment McGregor suffered the injury. The injury was not to the same leg McGregor broke during his 2021 fight against Dustin Poirier, which had sidelined him for more than three years. The loss extended McGregor's winless drought in the UFC, with his last victory coming by first-round TKO against Donald «Cowboy» Cerrone in January 2020.
The fight was a rematch of a 2013 featherweight bout that McGregor won by unanimous decision, when neither fighter was a household name. Since then, McGregor became one of the biggest stars in combat sports, winning UFC titles in the featherweight and lightweight divisions. However, his career has been marked by controversy and legal issues in recent years.
In the days leading up to the fight, McGregor acknowledged that he had become distracted by his success outside the cage. «I launched an Irish whiskey,» McGregor said Wednesday. «I didn't drink heavily, if at all, at that time of my life. I was an athlete at the top of my game. Next thing you know, thousands upon thousands of bottles (are) in my garage. 'Sell this, Conor.' OK, I'd leave my property with two bottles under my arm, and that was it. I was caught. And I wasn't used to it. And that's it. God gave me these lessons. That's it. I was trapped and caught, and it is what it is.»
The loss marks another setback for McGregor, who has been embroiled in multiple controversies and legal battles over the past several years. His future in the UFC remains uncertain, as the 36-year-old Irishman now faces another lengthy recovery from injury.
Holloway, meanwhile, improves his record and solidifies his status as one of the top fighters in the featherweight division. The Hawaiian fighter, known for his durability and striking, showed composure in capitalizing on McGregor's misfortune.
UFC 329 took place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, drawing a capacity crowd eager to see McGregor's return. The event was one of the most anticipated in UFC history, given McGregor's star power and the long layoff. However, the fight ended in disappointment for fans, with many expressing frustration on social media.
McGregor's last UFC victory came in January 2020, when he defeated Cerrone in just 40 seconds. Since then, he has lost two of his three fights, including the Poirier bout in which he broke his leg. The loss to Holloway adds to a difficult period for the fighter, who once dominated the sport.
Despite the setback, McGregor remains one of the most recognizable figures in combat sports, with a massive following and lucrative business ventures outside the cage. Whether he will return to the Octagon again remains to be seen, but Saturday's fight underscored the physical toll of a long layoff and the challenges of competing at the highest level.
