Conor McGregor's long-awaited return to the octagon at UFC 329 came to a devastating halt, cut short by an injury that has the entire UFC community in shock. Max Holloway defeated McGregor via injury stoppage just 1:06 into the first round, leaving everyone wondering what's next for "The Notorious."
That First Kick Sunk the Ship
The main event was barely underway when disaster struck. McGregor went for an aerial kick in the opening sequence, but his right leg landed awkwardly on the canvas. A burst of momentum pushed him forward while that right leg was still turned sideways, and just like that, he could not put any weight on his right knee. It was heartbreaking to watch him hobble around the cage, clearly in severe pain and unable to continue. Holloway, ever the sportsman, even asked the referee to stop the fight because McGregor was obviously injured. The ref had no choice but to wave it off, and McGregor's highly anticipated return was over before it truly began.UFC Community Stunned After a Wild Card
The injury's severity was undeniable, and it immediately cast a huge shadow over the night. The UFC community is still reeling from the sudden, unexpected end to such a massive comeback fight. While McGregor's night was cut short, the rest of the UFC 329 card delivered some insane action. Paddy Pimblett secured a submission win at 0:52 into Round 1 against Benoit Saint Denis, showing his dominance. Mario Bautista took a unanimous decision over Cory Sandhagen, and Brandon Royval also got a submission victory against Lone'er Kavanagh in the third round. King Green rounded out the main card wins with a TKO over Terrance McKinney. What's next for McGregor's career is greatly in question right now, and the word on that is sure to follow. For now, the UFC community is just trying to wrap its head around this wild night and the stunning way the main event ended.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.