Conor McGregor lost in his comeback rematch against rival Max Holloway by TKO in a matter of seconds at UFC 329.
The longtime rivals matched up for the second time as part of UFC 329: McGregor vs. Holloway 2 at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada on Saturday, July 11.
Commentators Jon Anik, Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier speculated that McGregor may have blown out his right knee with his first jumping roundhouse kick in round one. Holloway, 34, asked the referee whether the fight should be stopped as McGregor fell to the mat repeatedly, before it was called off at 69 seconds.
The injury is notable considering that McGregor broke his left leg during his last professional fight against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in 2021. (Unlike in 2021, McGregor was able to walk out of the octagon on his own power on Saturday.)
“People at home are so mad,” Rogan, 58, admitted in the aftermath of the decision. “Imagine if you bet on this … It’s just a massive, massive bummer.”
McGregor shook hands with Holloway after the TKO decision was announced but left the octagon before any post-match interviews could take place.
Speaking with Rogan after the match, Holloway called for the frustrated live crowd to cheer McGregor and encouraged the UFC to book a third match between them.
“Let’s get this f***ing money, boys,” Holloway demanded. “We gotta run it back one more time, at least.”
Later in the broadcast, Rogan admitted to viewers, “This is just one of those things that happens and it sucks.”
McGregor, 37, last stepped into the octagon for a main event fight against Poirier, 37, at UFC 264 on July 10, 2021. On that night, McGregor was injured in the first round and left the cage on a stretcher with a broken leg.
McGregor stayed away from the sport for three years to nurse his injuries until he agreed to face fellow The Ultimate Fighter coach Michael Chandler at the T-Mobile Arena on June 29, 2024. The fight was ultimately scrapped due to McGregor sustaining a broken toe in training.
Following an 18-month suspension from the Combat Sports Anti-Doping agency, McGregor’s return bout against Holloway was officially announced by UFC head honcho Dana White on May 16.
The two fighters previously clashed at UFC Fight Night 26 in August 2013, where McGregor was victorious via a unanimous decision.
Ahead of UFC 329, McGregor confirmed he planned to bring his and fiancée Dee Devlin’s four children — Conor Jr, 9, Croía, 7, Rían, 5, and Mack, 2 — to T-Mobile Arena to watch his fight in person.
“I am happy how it went the last time I didn’t bring them [when he broke his leg against Poirier],” he recalled to TNT Sports on Wednesday, July 8. “I was away for camp. Camp was very good. The damage in the leg and just the hostility of it all, it just wasn’t the place.”
He added, “I was happy and thankfully they weren’t there to witness the leg break. That’s it.”
As for why he decided to bring his children to UFC 329, McGregor explained, “I’m going to go for it this time. My inspiration and my aim is let them watch their daddy in all his glory and our god.”
Saturday’s event took place just shy of one month after UFC Freedom 250, attended by the likes of President Donald Trump, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, comedian Shane Gillis and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns, among others, on the South Lawn of the White House on June 14. (The seven-fight UFC Freedom 250 card was headlined by Justin Gaethje defeating Ilia Topuria to win the undisputed UFC lightweight championship.)
UFC 329: McGregor vs. Holloway 2 aired on Paramount+.
