​The return of Conor McGregor arrived and departed in a flash. After a mere 69 seconds at UFC 329, the former two-division world champion tasted his second consecutive defeat due to a brutal leg injury. At the start of his rematch with Max Holloway on Saturday night in Las Vegas, McGregor rushed to the center of the Octagon and launched a jumping switch kick. He missed, then fired a head kick that sent him off-balance, and he crashed to the canvas. It quickly became clear that something was off with the Irishman as Holloway pressed the attack, seized the opportunity, and closed the deal, with McGregor clearly winced in pain as he hobbled around.
This marked McGregor’s first appearance in five years, a span that stretches back to the gnarly leg fracture he suffered in his trilogy with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. After the bout, UFC CEO Dana White addressed the media at the post-fight press conference, reflecting on a night that had already broken the promotion’s records for gate revenue, in addition to delivering a disappointing ending to a card that had drawn immense attention.
“Everybody who knows anything about the fight business, it’s been a big topic of discussion leading up to this fight: five years off in this sport is rough,” White remarked. “Great card. Unbelievable. The Paddy Pimblett thing right before. You could feel the energy in the air. Here we go. I was expecting at least a one-round war. Who knew what Conor was capable of in terms of cardio or whatever after a five-year layoff? Well, there you go.” White speculated about the possibility of a blown ACL, adding, “I’m not a doctor, but that’s what I figured when I saw it, and doctors think the same thing too.”
Following the fight, McGregor left the arena at T-Mobile on his own, declining to use crutches. White did not have a chance to speak with him at length, and the former champion did not remain for additional commentary. Holloway, meanwhile, reclaimed a victory in his response to a recent setback against Charles Oliveira in March. The two fighters first met in 2013, with McGregor earning a unanimous decision in their initial encounter while also contending with a knee injury at the time.
With both former champions now tied one win apiece in their two-fight series, White expressed uncertainty about whether a trilogy bout would be pursued in the future. Regarding the circulating theories about an undisclosed or lingering injury, White remained skeptical. He recounted the moment from the press conference day when McGregor burst from backstage and confronted Holloway, only to stop abruptly and square up, their foreheads nearly touching. White stated that he could not definitively determine if McGregor was hurt beforehand, noting that doctors had cleared him before the fight and that he appeared in good condition during the press conference and weigh-ins. If anyone had observed something during the faceoff that suggested weakness or injury—given the spectacle and massive attention, with millions watching in 24 hours—someone would have seen it.