Conor McGregor‘s anticipated return to the octagon concluded abruptly on Saturday, lasting just 69 seconds before a knee injury forced him to retire from his UFC 329 bout against Max Holloway in Las Vegas. The former two-weight world champion, who had not competed since sustaining a leg injury in July 2021, attempted a flying kick early in the opening round. He landed awkwardly, immediately appearing to be in distress.
Despite attempting to continue for a brief period, McGregor signalled to the referee that he was unable to proceed. The fight was stopped, with Max Holloway securing a victory via TKO. This marked the second encounter between the two fighters, with McGregor having previously won their 2013 match by unanimous decision.
Injury and immediate reactions
The injury occurred after McGregor threw a jumping roundhouse kick, with an awkward landing causing his knee to ‘pop’. He struggled to maintain his balance upon returning to his feet, leading to the referee’s decision to halt the contest. McGregor was seen limping from the octagon with assistance from his team.
Following the fight, McGregor issued a statement, describing the experience as “hell.” He stated that he had no prior injuries entering the fight and that the incident “came out of nowhere.” While McGregor did not provide specific details on his injury, UFC doctors have suggested a potential torn ACL in his knee, though further testing is required to determine the full extent of the damage.
This incident has led to speculation, with some suggesting McGregor may have been favouring his knee before the fight. However, McGregor‘s statement refutes these claims, indicating the injury was a sudden occurrence. He had previously suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during his first fight against Holloway in 2013, undergoing surgery and returning to competition 11 months later.
Holloway’s call for a trilogy and McGregor’s future
Max Holloway, the former featherweight champion, expressed his willingness to discuss a potential third fight with McGregor once he recovers. “It is what it is, I’m going to sit down with the UFC,” Holloway stated, adding, “[There was] so much hype for that right there. We’ve got to run it back one more time. One more time for the boys.”
McGregor‘s career has faced multiple setbacks due to injuries and other issues. After breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in 2021, a scheduled bout with Michael Chandler in June 2024 was cancelled due to a broken toe sustained in training. Later in 2024, an Irish civil court found him liable for a 2018 incident, a verdict he appealed unsuccessfully.
In October 2025, he received an 18-month ban for “whereabouts failures” after missing three attempts by Combat Sports Anti-Doping to collect biological samples in 2024. This ban was backdated and expired in March. The specifics of McGregor‘s current knee injury are yet to be fully determined, though an ACL injury could require between six and 12 months for recovery, potentially delaying his return to training until July of next year and a fight until the autumn.
In the co-main event at the T-Mobile Arena, Britain‘s Paddy Pimblett also secured a swift victory, defeating Benoit Saint-Denis via D’arce choke in less than a minute.
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Source: aljazeera.com
As NewsGB's Senior Football Correspondent, Jack Ferndale reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He covered north-east football for a regional daily. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Sunderland and completed an NCTJ diploma. Jack lives in Sunderland, where he watches lower-league football home and away. “The story is in the squad, not just the starting eleven.”
