Conor McGregor's highly anticipated return to the UFC ended in disaster on Saturday night when he suffered a knee injury just 69 seconds into his welterweight bout against Max Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas.
Injury Details
The 37-year-old Irishman, fighting for the first time in over five years, launched a flying left roundhouse kick at the opening bell but landed awkwardly on his right knee. After attempting two more strikes, it became clear McGregor could not continue, and the fight was stopped at 1:09 of the first round.
UFC CEO Dana White told reporters: '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.'
Post-Fight Reactions
McGregor took to social media to express his devastation: '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.'
Holloway, who improved to 28-9-0, said: '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. For it to end like this sucks.'
Context of the Comeback
The fight was a rematch of their 2013 featherweight bout, which McGregor won by unanimous decision. McGregor had not fought since breaking his left leg in a 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier. His last UFC victory was a 40-second knockout of Donald Cerrone in January 2020.
McGregor, once the UFC's most marketable star, became the first fighter to hold two titles simultaneously in 2016. He reportedly earned over $100 million for his boxing loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2017. During his time away from the Octagon, he faced multiple lawsuits and aligned with hard-right figures during an aborted run for the Irish presidency.
