Conor McGregor’s highly anticipated return to the octagon against Max Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas was abruptly halted due to a knee injury, just 1:09 into the first round on Saturday night.
After a hiatus of over five years, the 37-year-old McGregor began the fight with an aggressive flying left roundhouse kick but unfortunately landed awkwardly on his right knee. Despite his efforts to continue striking Holloway (28-9-0), it quickly became apparent that McGregor (22-7-0) was unable to proceed with the scheduled five-round welterweight contest.
UFC President Dana White remarked on the situation, stating, “Taking five years off in this sport is tough. We’re suspecting an ACL tear. That was my initial thought when I witnessed the injury, and the medical team seems to agree.”
Holloway entered the bout as the favored competitor, while McGregor was positioned as a +240 underdog, indicating that a $100 bet on McGregor would yield $240 in winnings.
McGregor made his entrance to the ring accompanied by The Notorious B.I.G.’s track “Hypnotize,” greeted by an enthusiastic crowd at T-Mobile Arena. His last fight took place exactly five years and one day prior to this event.
This match was a rematch of their 2013 featherweight encounter, which McGregor won by unanimous decision. Since then, McGregor has faced challenges, including a severe leg injury sustained during a 2021 fight against Dustin Poirier. Prior to this setback, McGregor had been a prominent figure in the UFC, notably becoming the first fighter to hold two titles across different weight classes simultaneously in 2016. He also earned over $100 million despite losing a boxing match against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2017.
McGregor’s last victory in the UFC occurred in January 2020, where he defeated Donald Cerrone in just 40 seconds. Earlier on the same night, England’s Paddy Pimblett achieved a quick victory over France’s Benoit Saint Denis, winning by submission after only 52 seconds in their lightweight bout.
