Conor McGregor's long-awaited return to the Octagon at UFC 329 went sideways, fast, lasting only 69 seconds. Max Holloway grabbed the stoppage win after McGregor, just 37 years old and back from a five-year hiatus, appeared to suffer a serious knee injury on his very first move: an opening jumping switch kick. The fight at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas ended when McGregor stepped back and was clearly in visible pain, lifting his injured knee.
Holloway Knew Something Was Off Before the Buzzer
Holloway, 34, spoke at the post-fight press conference, reacting to what everyone felt was an anticlimactic rematch. "I had the man weak in the knees, I guess," he quipped, then got serious. "All jokes aside, I just hope he's good. I know Conor's been battling some stuff. It looked like he'd really been changing. He found God, he had his kids in there. So, during the fight, you could obviously tell his demeanor changed." Holloway even tried to tell ref Mike Beltran sooner, saying, "This guy's kids are front row. I don't want to see him take unnecessary damage. You've got to stop the fight." But McGregor, true to form, tried to keep going. "This is how crazy Conor is," Holloway continued. "The first time he was on the ground he was like, 'Fight, fight.' OK. So, that's why I backed up. Stand up then, let's fight. Then he fell back down and the fight was called."The Notorious One's Troubles Continue
This isn't the first time McGregor's had leg injury issues, folks. His return ends similar to his previous fight in July 2021, which also saw him suffer a leg injury. While this latest setback appears less catastrophic than the lower-leg fracture he took against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264, it's clear he'll presumably need another extended break. UFC commentators speculated immediately after the fight that McGregor might have entered the bout injured, noting replay footage that showed him hobbling in the inspection zone. McGregor, however, took to social media to say he was fully healthy. Holloway, though, felt it in his gut, saying, "Even with him walking into the Octagon, it just didn't seem like the same Conor. He was there to fight, but I thought he'd be a little bit more rowdy, more crazy. He looked like really, really calm. So, I was just kind of like, 'Oh, wow. Let's see how this goes.' Then, of course, I knew he was going to attack me with something, and it was a kick, so it sucks." These two first met way back in 2013, with McGregor winning via unanimous decision even with a torn ACL. That was a pivotal moment for him. Holloway, despite the bad blood ahead of this rematch, wasn't out to truly hurt him after the injury. "We're killers, but at the end of the day, I'm a human being," Holloway said, wishing him a speedy recovery. "It's all up to him. The man, like I said, is trying to change his life around. So, sending prayers his way."This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.