Conor McGregors highly anticipated return to the Octagon ended in sheer disaster at UFC 329, lasting just 69 seconds after the Irishman suffered a knee injury against Max Holloway. Making his first promotional appearance since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in 2021, the 37-year-olds comeback was cut cruelly short. McGregor came out of the gate aggressive, throwing a couple of high kicks, but missed on both occasions and ended up on the canvas.While the former two-weight champion managed to scramble back to his feet, he looked completely unsteady. As McGregor stumbled, referee Mike Beltran had seen enough and immediately waved off the contest, awarding Holloway the technical knockout victory.Holloway reacts to the anti-climactic finishThe victory sees Holloway avenge his 2013 loss to McGregor, taking his incredible professional record to 28 wins in 37 fights. However, making his welterweight debut at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the former featherweight king was visibly frustrated by the sudden nature of the stoppage.You guys are lucky because there is going to be a Holloway v McGregor 3 now, Holloway said in his post-fight interview.It is what it is. Ill sit down with the UFC. There was so much hype for that. We have to run it back one more time. We need one more.I was looking forward to this. I was working hard to get to 170lb and fight this guy. For it to end like this, it sucks.The anatomy of the injury and McGregors mounting defeatsThe general feeling ahead of the bout was that if McGregor was to win, he would need to land an early knockout blow a strategy the Irishman clearly embraced. However, chaos struck almost immediately. McGregors knee appeared to give way when he missed with his first attempted roundhouse kick in the opening seconds. Holloway avoided a second attempted kick and quickly registered that his opponent had sustained a serious injury.The result marks the seventh defeat of McGregors career and his fourth loss in his past five fights. He has secured just a single victory inside the cage since 2016.Return marred by heavy controversyAhead of UFC 329, critics heavily questioned whether McGregor still deserved the global spotlight following a series of serious out-of-competition controversies, legal battles, and missed drug tests.In November 2024, Nikita Hand, who accused McGregor of raping her, won her civil case claim against him for damages for assault by rape.Furthermore, McGregor had only recently become eligible to compete after accepting an 18-month ban for violating the UFCs anti-doping policy, having missed three drug tests within a 12-month period in 2024. That ban, backdated to his third missed test in September 2024, only concluded in March.Despite the widespread controversy, UFC chiefs banking on McGregors unparalleled star power clearly believed he would still draw eyes to the sport and generate massive revenue for the promotion without damaging the brand.Instead, his long-awaited return leaves the sport with far more questions than answers. Topics Conor McGregor Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read Conor McGregor hints at eye-watering $200m deal to return to UFC and fight at the White House Jon Fisher 25th September, 2025 Conor McGregor loses appeal on sexual assault case Mitch Fretton 31st July, 2025 Beyond MMA: Khabib opens up on infamous build-up to fighting Conor McGregor at UFC 229 Ben Miller 28th July, 2025 UFC 314 results: Paddy talks fighting lizard McGregor at Wembley or Anfield after Chandler win Ben Miller 13th April, 2025 Conor McGregor wants world title in honorable BKFC as UFC icon offers to fight for free Ben Miller 17th February, 2025 Conor McGregor agrees to fight with Logan Paul Jon Fisher 17th December, 2024
