Conor McGregor's long-awaited return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) octagon ended in disappointment after just 69 seconds on Saturday night. The Irish mixed martial arts star, fighting for the first time in more than five years, sustained a suspected knee injury during his bout against Max Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas.
The 37-year-old fighter, whose last competitive appearance was in 2021, initiated the welterweight contest with a left roundhouse kick. However, he appeared to land awkwardly on his right knee. Despite attempting to continue, it quickly became evident that McGregor was unable to proceed, leading to the early stoppage of the scheduled five-round fight.
UFC chief executive Dana White addressed the incident after the fight, stating, "We're assuming a blown ACL [anterior cruciate ligament]. I'm no doctor, but that's what I figured when I saw it, and doctors think the same thing too." McGregor himself took to social media to express his dismay, denying any pre-existing injury and describing the sudden onset of pain as "hell."
This comeback was billed by McGregor as "the comeback of all comebacks in sports history" and was a rematch of a 2013 featherweight fight he won. The incident marks another significant setback for the former two-division champion, who had been the UFC's most marketable star before breaking his left leg in a 2021 defeat against Dustin Poirier. His last victory in the UFC was a 40-second triumph against Donald Cerrone in January 2020.
During his lengthy absence from the sport, McGregor was involved in various legal disputes and even explored a run for the Irish presidency. His return had generated immense anticipation, with a sold-out crowd at the T-Mobile Arena eager to witness the fighter who once famously held two UFC titles simultaneously and reportedly earned over $100 million from his boxing superfight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2017.