Conor McGregor’s highly anticipated return to the UFC octagon concluded abruptly after just 69 seconds in his main event bout against Max Holloway. The fight, held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, was stopped in the first round due to a knee injury sustained by McGregor.
Fighting for the first time in over five years, the 37-year-old McGregor initiated the match with a flying left roundhouse kick. He landed awkwardly on his right knee, which appeared to cause the injury. Despite attempting two more kicks and strikes against Holloway, it became evident that McGregor could not continue the scheduled five-round welterweight contest.
UFC President Dana White commented on the situation, stating, “Five years off in this sport is rough.” White added that a blown ACL was the initial assumption by both himself and the doctors. This injury marks another setback for McGregor, whose last fight was exactly five years and a day prior to Saturday night’s event.
The bout was a rematch of a 2013 featherweight fight, which McGregor won by unanimous decision. Holloway, who had moved up to welterweight for this encounter, expressed his disappointment with the outcome. “We’ve got to run it back one more time,” he said, adding, “For it to end like this sucks.” Holloway had closed as the favourite for the fight.
Injury and previous setbacks
Replays of the incident highlighted McGregor’s left leg, the same leg he broke five years ago in a 2021 defeat to Dustin Poirier. Concerns arose that the injury might have occurred even before the fight began, as his left knee buckled during his ring walk. However, UFC commentators Daniel Cormier and Joe Rogan speculated that McGregor tore his ACL when landing from his initial kick, leaving him largely ineffective against Holloway.
This latest injury adds to a series of setbacks for McGregor. His planned return in 2023 against Michael Chandler was cancelled two weeks before the fight due to a broken toe. McGregor had not fought since breaking his left leg in July 2021 against Poirier, an injury that occurred at the same Las Vegas venue.
Before his 2021 injury, McGregor was a prominent figure in the UFC, becoming the first fighter to simultaneously hold two titles in different weight classes in 2016. His last UFC victory was a 40-second triumph over Donald Cerrone in January 2020.
Holloway’s perspective and earlier results
Despite the anticlimactic end to the fight, Holloway remains hopeful for a future rematch. “I was looking forward to it, I worked my a** off to get to 170lbs to fight this guy,” Holloway stated. He attempted to rally the Las Vegas crowd to show appreciation for McGregor as the Irishman left the arena, though McGregor was met with boos.
Earlier on the fight card, England’s Paddy Pimblett secured a submission victory over France’s Benoit Saint Denis in a lightweight bout, which concluded in just 52 seconds. This co-main event also saw a quick finish, preceding the main event’s unexpected conclusion.
McGregor’s career timeline includes a significant boxing superfight against Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2017, where he reportedly earned a substantial sum despite the loss. He signed with the UFC in 2013 as a featherweight, securing a first-round knockout against Marcus Brimage in April 2013, which also earned him his first “Knockout of the Night” award.
The rivalry between Khabib Nurmagomedov and McGregor culminated at UFC 229 in October 2018, where Nurmagomedov submitted McGregor in the fourth round.
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Source: theguardian.com
As News-UK's Sports News Writer, Oscar Pennington reports on rugby union, golf and boxing for readers across the country. He built a reputation for sharp explainer pieces on regional sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Nottingham Trent University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Oscar lives in Nottingham, where he follows the pro golf tour and amateur boxing. “Context is what turns a result into a story.”
