​Conor McGregor’s return did not unfold as planned in the night’s headliner at UFC 329, held at T-Mobile Arena. The comeback bid, aimed at reclaiming a place among the sport’s elite in his two weight classes, was halted abruptly by a knee injury just moments after the opening bell. Early in the contest against Max Holloway, McGregor attempted a leaping kick that appeared to buckle his knee, and the fight was stopped less than a minute later, preventing what many had hoped would be a dramatic triumph or a meaningful statement from the Irish star.
McGregor left the cage without addressing the media, but cameras tracked him as he moved through the tunnel and backstage area. In the aftermath, ESPN released a candid clip capturing McGregor’s emotional response to the injury, showing the UFC icon visibly overcome with tears as he processed the setback. The moment underscored the heartbreak of an evening that had promised drama, only to end with a fighter’s injuries and a complicated future to consider.
In the wake of the stoppage, fans and analysts were left to speculate about McGregor’s path forward. The question on everyone’s mind was whether the former two-division champion would ever again step back into the Octagon. The abrupt end to his night also contrasted with several other compelling outcomes on the card, which delivered a wide range of results and memorable moments.
For those who missed the event or simply want a recap, here is a full rundown of the UFC 329 results. Max Holloway defeated Conor McGregor by TKO due to injury in Round 1, at 1:09, marking a dramatic and disappointing conclusion to the main event. In the undercard, Paddy Pimblett claimed a technical submission against Benoit Saint Denis with a D’Arce choke at 0:52 of Round 1. Mario Bautista earned a unanimous decision over Cory Sandhagen by scores of 29-28, 29-28, and 29-28. Brandon Royval submitted Lone’er Kavanagh with a rear-naked choke in Round 3 at 3:40, while King Green stopped Terrance McKinney with punches in Round 1 at 4:59.
Other notable results included Robert Whittaker overcoming Nikita Krylov via TKO with punches in Round 3 at 1:01, and Gable Steveson delivering a knockout win over Elisha Ellison in Round 1 at 2:31. Adrian Yanez defeated Cody Garbrandt by TKO from strikes in Round 1 at 2:47, and Luke Riley stopped Kai Kamaka III by TKO from strikes in Round 1 at 3:03. Wang Cong dominated Tracy Cortez for a unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27), while Damian Pinas scored a knockout with a punch on Cesar Almeida in Round 1 at 4:44. Farid Basharat earned a unanimous decision over John Garza (30-27, 30-27, 29-28), and Ryan Gandra defeated Zach Reese by TKO from punches in Round 1 at 1:15. Alessandro Costa submitted Cody Durden with a rear-naked choke in Round 2 at 2:19.
The event, while punctuated by a dramatic and disappointing main event, delivered a card filled with gripping performances, turning the spotlight on rising stars and established contenders alike. As the sport processes the setback for McGregor, fans will be left awaiting news on whether he will pursue a return to the Octagon or explore alternate paths within the sport. The night’s results leave a landscape that will shape discussions and matchups in the weeks and months ahead, with many fighters making strong cases for future opportunities and potential title contention.