Conor McGregor’s controversial return to the UFC ended in a first-round injury on Saturday – five years after his last fight ended in the same manner, in the same arena.
After breaking his leg in a first-round loss to Dustin Poirier in 2021, McGregor made his comeback against old foe Max Holloway in Las Vegas, and he appeared to injure himself in the opening seconds – perhaps while throwing a running, jumping kick.
McGregor soon slipped to the canvas, managed to stand after some ground and pound from Holloway, then fell again. When he stood for a second time after further strikes from his opponent, he stumbled and shook his head, leading the referee to wave off the fight. The bout was McGregor’s first since his leg break, and it came two years after a broken toe ruled him out of a fight with Michael Chandler.
It also came two years after a civil jury found the 37-year-old liable for rape. McGregor denies all allegations against him, but his appeal against the verdict failed.
Follow all the fallout from UFC 329, below:
McGregor vs Holloway – round one
McGregor runs across the cage and throws a high kick! Now another high kick, but he slips, and Holloway is throwing ground and pound already!
McGregor with some up-kicks, and finally he is able to stand. Low kick from Holloway.
McGregor falls again… Is his leg injured again??
More punches from Holloway, more up-kicks from McGregor.
Holloway lets McGregor up, but no… no… McGregor stumbles…
IT’S WAVED OFF. HE CAN’T CONTINUE. MCGREGOR IS INJURED AGAIN.
More from Dana White
“Everyone who knows anything about the fight business, five years off in this sport is rough,” said UFC president Dana White.
“I was expecting at least a one-round war. Who knew what Conor was capable of after a five-year layoff, but there you go. We’re assuming a blown ACL.”
McGregor’s career likely over?
Can he ever be trusted again as a pay-per-view commodity?
In the US, the UFC has moved away from a PPV model this year, but in the UK and certain countries, it still exists.
Also, the UFC was no doubt counting on McGregor’s return to drive up Paramount+ subscriptions, at least.
ACL injury could keep McGregor out for a year
We don’t know for sure that it was an ACL issue, to be clear, but Joe Rogan on commentary speculated as much – and it was a reasonable suggestion.
Such injuries can take six to 12 months to heal.
That could mean that McGregor can’t even train properly until next July, and not fight until next autumn.
