Conor McGregor’s highly anticipated return to the UFC ended in disappointment on Saturday night after the Irishman suffered a knee injury just 69 seconds into his welterweight bout against Max Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas.
The former two-division champion was making his first appearance in the Octagon since breaking his leg in a loss to Dustin Poirier in 2021.
However, his comeback was cut short after his knee appeared to buckle during the opening exchanges, forcing referee Mike Beltran to stop the contest and award Holloway a technical knockout victory.
McGregor opened the fight aggressively, throwing two high kicks in quick succession. Both missed their target, and after the first attempt his knee appeared to give way, sending him to the canvas.
Although the 37-year-old managed to stand, he was visibly unsteady, prompting the referee to wave off the fight.
The victory gave Holloway revenge for his loss to McGregor in their first meeting in 2013 and improved his professional record to 28 wins in 37 fights.
Despite emerging victorious, Holloway expressed disappointment that the contest ended prematurely and immediately called for a third fight between the pair.
“You guys are lucky because there is going to be a Holloway v McGregor 3 now,” Holloway said.
“It is what it is. I’ll sit down with the UFC. There was so much hype for that. We have to run it back one more time. We need one more.
“I was looking forward to this. I was working hard to get to 170lb and fight this guy. For it to end like this, it sucks.”
The bout marked Holloway’s debut in the welterweight division after establishing himself as one of the UFC’s greatest featherweights.
Since making his promotional debut as a 20-year-old in 2012, the Hawaiian has built a Hall of Fame-worthy résumé, highlighted by a record-setting 13-fight winning streak and a featherweight title reign.
Widely regarded as one of the sport’s most exciting fighters, Holloway has earned a reputation for his relentless striking and memorable finishes.
His knockout victory over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 was famously described by commentator Joe Rogan as the “KO of the century.”
Before UFC 329, Holloway had spoken about his desire to “right the wrong” of his defeat to McGregor 13 years earlier.
While he achieved the victory, the manner in which the contest ended left little sense of closure, with questions also remaining over how he will fare at welterweight.
Holloway’s long-term future is yet to be determined. Although he is currently ranked fourth in the lightweight division and strengthened his credentials for another title opportunity by defeating Gaethje in 2024, remaining at welterweight could pave the way for a trilogy with McGregor.
However, that possibility depends on whether the Irishman fights again.
For McGregor, the defeat continues a difficult run inside and outside the Octagon. It was the seventh loss of his professional career and his fourth in his last five fights, leaving him with only one victory since 2016.
His return also came after a turbulent period away from competition. In November 2024, Nikita Hand, who accused McGregor of raping her, won her claim against him for damages for assault by rape in a civil case.
McGregor also served an 18-month suspension for violating the UFC’s anti-doping policy after missing three drug tests within a 12-month period in 2024.
The suspension, which was backdated to his third missed test in September 2024, expired in March, clearing the way for his return.
Despite those controversies, UFC officials remained confident that McGregor’s popularity would continue to generate significant interest and commercial success for the promotion.
There had been widespread expectation before the fight that McGregor’s best chance of victory would come through an early knockout, and he appeared intent on imposing himself from the opening bell.
Instead, his comeback ended almost immediately after his knee gave way while attempting his first roundhouse kick.
Holloway avoided a second kick before quickly recognizing that his opponent had been injured.
The abrupt ending leaves uncertainty over the futures of both fighters.
Holloway must decide whether to continue at welterweight or return to lightweight in pursuit of another title opportunity, while fresh questions surround McGregor’s future after another injury setback in what was expected to mark the beginning of his latest comeback.
(The Whistler)
