Conor McGregor’s highly anticipated return to the UFC ended in disaster on Saturday night as he suffered a knee injury just 69 seconds into his welterweight bout against Max Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas. Fighting for the first time in over five years, the 37-year-old Irishman landed awkwardly after throwing a left roundhouse kick at the start of the first round.
McGregor attempted two more strikes but was clearly unable to continue. UFC chief executive Dana White said: “We’re assuming a blown ACL. I’m no doctor, but that’s what I figured when I saw it, and doctors think the same thing too.” Holloway, who was declared the winner by technical knockout, commented: “What can I say? I had him weak in the knees I guess. So much hype. We’ve got to run it back one more time.”
McGregor denied any pre-existing injury, writing on social media: “I was throwing kicks, planted and jumping, all throughout camp as well as backstage before the fight. This came out of nowhere. I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell.” The bout was a rematch of their 2013 featherweight fight, which McGregor won by unanimous decision.
The 37-year-old had not fought since breaking his left leg in a 2021 defeat to Dustin Poirier. His last UFC victory was a 40-second win over Donald Cerrone in January 2020. During his layoff, McGregor was involved in multiple lawsuits and made an aborted run for the Irish presidency, aligning with hard-right figures. He previously became the UFC’s first simultaneous two-weight champion in 2016 and earned over $100m from his 2017 boxing loss to Floyd Mayweather.
