Conor McGregor’s long-awaited UFC return ended in the most underwhelming, devastating way possible as he suffered a knee injury moments into his main event with Max Holloway.
McGregor was making a comeback to the cage at the T-Mobile Arena for the first time since suffering back-to-back defeats to Dustin Poirier in 2021. The latter of those losses came via a serious injury to his left leg, at the same Las Vegas venue.
But in a nightmare twist of fate, former two-division UFC champion McGregor blew his left knee out after throwing a jumping roundhouse kick at the very beginning of the UFC 329 fight.
Clearly injured, he buckled to the mat under any pressure Holloway put on him and the bout was subsequently waved off by the referee.
McGregor was booed as he left the arena despite Holloway’s attempts to get the Las Vegas crowd to show their appreciation for the Irishman.
“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.”
Replays then drew attention to McGregor’s left leg - the same one that was broken five years ago against Poirier - which buckled just before he entered the Octagon during his ring walk, sparking concerns that the injury was sustained before he’d even started the fight.
However, UFC commentators Daniel Cormier and Joe Rogan also speculated that the 37-year-old had torn his ACL when landing from that first wild move, which left him all but powerless against Holloway.
If that is the case, McGregor will likely be out for at least another year, throwing further doubt into his fighting future.
Nevertheless, Holloway is still hopeful he can one day deliver the fans the fight they were hoping to see.
“We’ve got to run it back one more time,” said former featherweight champion Holloway, who had moved up to welterweight for the match. “I was looking forward to it, I worked my a** off to get to 170lbs to fight this guy. For it to end like this sucks.”
It is the latest injury setback for the Irishman, who saw a planned return in 2023 against Michael Chandler go up in smoke two weeks out from fight night due to a broken toe.
It also comes 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.
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