Conor McGregor’s UFC Comeback Ends in Seconds as Knee Injury Hands Max Holloway TKO Win at UFC 329

Conor McGregor’s long-awaited return to the UFC octagon lasted barely a minute. The former two-division champion tore his knee attempting a flying kick just seconds into his main event rematch with Max Holloway at UFC 329, forcing a TKO stoppage at 1:09 of the first round in front of a sold-out crowd at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

McGregor had not competed since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021, a five-year layoff that made Saturday’s rematch with Holloway the most anticipated fight of International Fight Week. The two first met 13 years earlier at a 2013 featherweight bout, where McGregor won by unanimous decision while fighting through a torn ACL. This time, the bout was booked at welterweight, marking Holloway’s first appearance in the 170-pound division.

The buildup to the rematch had already turned tense two days before the fight. At Thursday’s staredown, McGregor ripped Holloway’s sunglasses off his face and pressed forehead-to-forehead with him twice before security and UFC president Dana White separated the pair for good. The chaos signaled real animosity heading into fight night, not just nostalgia for a matchup that had been circling for years. McGregor entered the cage listed at 22-6 in his MMA career and 10-4 inside the UFC, while Holloway carried a 27-9 overall record with a 23-9 mark under the UFC banner.

A Comeback Undone in Seconds

McGregor came out aggressive, immediately looking for a highlight-reel finish with a flying kick attempt. He landed awkwardly, and his knee gave out on impact. He tried to continue fighting through it for a few more seconds but ultimately looked to the referee to signal he could not go on. The fight was waved off, handing Holloway the win by TKO due to knee injury.

It marked the second time in as many McGregor fights that a knee injury altered the outcome — a cruel bookend to a comeback that had been five years in the making. Bettors who backed McGregor through a DraftKings Promo Code or a FanDuel Promo Code saw the underdog storyline collapse before it ever got going. Holloway, gracious in victory, said afterward that he’d be open to running it back once McGregor recovers. “It is what it is, I’m going to sit down with the UFC,” Holloway said. “There was so much hype for that right there. We’ve got to run it back one more time. One more time for the boys.”

A Record-Setting Night Around the Main Event

While the headline result was overshadowed by injury, UFC 329 delivered one of the most chaotic cards of the year. The event tied the promotion record for most finishes on a single card with 11, matching UFC 224, UFC 281 and other historic showcases. Paddy Pimblett stopped Benoit Saint Denis via technical submission in just 52 seconds to claim a Performance of the Night bonus, and King Green finished Terrance McKinney by first-round TKO to earn the other. Brandon Royval’s third-round submission of Lone’er Kavanagh took home Fight of the Night honors.

The card also made business history. UFC 329 generated $26,430,566 in ticket sales, the largest live gate in UFC history, eclipsing the previous mark of $21,829,245 set at UFC 306 in September 2024. Announced attendance was 20,078 at T-Mobile Arena, underscoring the drawing power McGregor still holds even in defeat.

What Comes Next

UFC president Dana White had floated multiple scenarios for McGregor heading into the fight, including talk of a “triple crown” run at a third UFC title if he emerged victorious. Instead, the promotion now faces the difficult task of mapping out McGregor’s recovery timeline, with no clear indication of how severe the knee injury is or how long he’ll be sidelined this time.

For Holloway, the win adds another chapter to an already decorated resume as a former featherweight champion and BMF titleholder, even if it came in unusual fashion. Whether the trilogy fight Holloway floated ever materializes will depend largely on how quickly — and how fully — McGregor can bounce back from his latest physical setback. Until then, fight fans looking to get action down on the next UFC card can shop lines through a BetMGM Promo Code or a Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code.