​Conor McGregor’s highly anticipated return to the UFC ended almost as quickly as it began. According to TMZ, McGregor lost to Max Holloway by technical knockout after sustaining a leg injury early in the main event of UFC 329 in Las Vegas. The official UFC results credited Holloway with a TKO due to a knee injury at 1:09 of the first round. The bout was billed as McGregor’s first appearance inside the Octagon in more than five years, and his comeback lasted a mere 69 seconds.
The fight took place at the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, July 11, drawing immense attention due to the history between the two fighters. Their first meeting in 2013 ended with McGregor defeating Holloway by unanimous decision, a memory that added extra interest to this rematch.
TMZ’s report described how McGregor appeared to struggle immediately after launching a roundhouse kick, eventually collapsing again while attempting to continue before clutching his right leg in pain. The Associated Press noted that McGregor landed awkwardly on his right knee following a flying left roundhouse kick at the opening of the fight. After attempting to kick and land more strikes on Holloway, it became evident that McGregor could not continue the five-round welterweight contest.
The stoppage occurred at 1:09 of the first round, and Holloway was officially declared the winner by TKO due to a knee injury. Holloway voiced his assessment after the fight, telling reporters that he could tell McGregor was hurt. AP quoted Holloway saying he repeatedly asked referee Mike Beltran to halt the bout, noting that McGregor’s demeanor had changed and that he appeared unable to defend himself effectively. Holloway added that he told the referee, “Call this, he’s hurt,” and he also extended well wishes for McGregor’s speedy recovery.
McGregor later took to social media, stating that he entered the fight without injury and that the knee issue “came out of nowhere.” AP reported that UFC president Dana White indicated there were no visible signs of a preexisting injury during Friday’s ceremonial weigh-in. White suggested a blown ACL as a possibility but emphasized that it should not be treated as a confirmed diagnosis without an official medical update from McGregor or UFC.
TMZ referenced McGregor’s prior history with a left leg fracture suffered in his 2021 bout against Dustin Poirier, a setback that kept him out of competition for years. The current incident, however, occurred long before any potential long-term implications could be assessed, leaving fans and analysts to speculate about the immediate impact on McGregor’s career and his plans for a potential return to the cage.