It's fair to say that Conor McGregor's comeback to the UFC wasn't exactly the explosive re-entry he had been promising – more like a spark that fizzled out in under two minutes! The Notorious One's highly anticipated bout against Max Holloway at UFC 329 lasted just 69 seconds, with McGregor succumbing to a knee injury after a flurry of early punches. The devastating defeat has reignited the simmering feud with musician Machine Gun Kelly, who seized on the Irishman's misfortune on social media.
MGK's Instagram post read like a cruel roast: "Knees weak of old age the real conor can't stand up." For those who might have forgotten, this latest jab is just the latest instalment in a long-standing feud that dates back to the infamous 2021 MTV Video Music Awards scuffle. Remember when McGregor nearly went toe-to-toe with MGK on the red carpet, tossing a drink in his direction? Oh, it's on now!
The drama off the octagon has been just as intense as what transpires inside it. McGregor's return to the sport has been dogged by controversy – most notably the sexual assault allegations levelled against him last year. In November 2025, he was ordered to cough up nearly £208,000 in damages to Nikita Hand, who claimed they had a non-consensual encounter in December 2018. McGregor maintained that the sex was consensual, but the incident has cast a shadow over his reputation.
It's hard not to wonder if some of the UFC brass and TV pundits have been naive to think that hosting McGregor on their shows wouldn't lead to this sort of fallout. His recent appearance on 'The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon' was met with widespread outrage, with many questioning the platform he was given despite the ongoing controversies. Twitter was ablaze with criticism from celebrities like Christina Ricci and other public figures who felt it was time for McGregor's mates in the media to step back.
For now, it seems that McGregor's return to the world of mixed martial arts is going up against a bigger opponent than Max Holloway – his own reputation. His high-profile loss and the simmering scandals will have many wondering if he'll be able to bounce back from this setback.