Conor McGregor suffered a nasty injury on his return to the Octagon (Image: Paramount Plus)
Conor McGregor‘s highly anticipated return to the Octagon ended in absolute disaster with his UFC comeback lasting just 69 seconds. The ‘Notorious’ suffered a devastating knee injury to cut his main event fight against Max Holloway so short that it prompted boos from the frustrated crowd. Making his first appearance since back-to-back losses to Dustin Poirier in 2021 – the second of which famously ended with a broken left leg – McGregor was hoping to write a new chapter in his career.
Instead, history repeated itself in a cruel twist of fate as he ended another fight with a serious leg injury. Seconds into the opening round, the Irishman threw a flying left roundhouse kick and immediately blew out his knee on his planted right leg. After attempting to kick and strike Holloway (28-9-0) two more times, it was clear McGregor (22-7-0) was unable to finish the scheduled five-round welterweight bout. The referee was forced to wave off the bout after just one minute and nine seconds. Despite Max Holloway’s best efforts to urge the Las Vegas crowd to show some respect for the former dual-weight champion, a disappointed arena heavily booed McGregor as he walked out.
McGregor, 37, had been convinced he’d beat Holloway in their welterweight bout at UFC 329 at the T-Mobile Arena. This was their second fight after the Irishman earned a unanimous decision over Holloway in a featherweight clash in 2013. “Weight’s on point, body’s on point, mind’s sharper than ever, plan is laid set, and I’m ready to go to war,” he had said. “I plan to contort Max’s body into such uncomfortable positions and have my way with him.”
Yet McGregor’s plans were unravelled almost immediately by his injury. As McGregor charged towards the middle of the Octagon with his legendary entrance music reverberating around the venue, many sensed something special was brewing following Paddy ‘the Baddy’ Pimblett’s stunning victory over Benoit Saint-Denis in the co-main event. Yet just as he climbed the steps to the cage, there appeared to be an issue with the Irishman’s right side, as he was seen wincing before executing the ‘billi strut’.
Holloway, unruffled by the magnitude of the occasion, remained focused throughout. Yet the contest was brought to an abrupt end when McGregor charged to the centre of the Octagon and immediately launched an ineffective spinning kick, landing rather awkwardly on his right leg – which proved to be the beginning of the end for the ex-two-division world champion.
After that, 37-year-old stumbled down to the canvas on multiple occasions – with Holloway seemingly reluctant to engage on the floor, urging the referee to bring the ‘Notorious’ back to his feet. When McGregor eventually rose, something appeared seriously wrong as he hobbled back into his stance before a swift shake of the head prompted the referee to step in and halt a deeply disappointing contest – which only lasted just over 60 seconds.
Holloway said: “Hey guys let’s give it up for Conor McGregor guys. What an absolute animal. When we were in here, he kept trying to fight on. I was trying to call the fight. You guys are lucky because there’s going to be a Holloway vs McGregor 3 now! Let’s get this f*****g money boys.”
Those comments were loudly booed before ‘Blessed’ continued: “What can I say? I had him weak in the knees I guess. It is what it is. I’m going to sit down with the UFC. So much hype for that right, damn. We’ve got to run it back one more time. One more time for the boys. We need one more. I worked my a** off to fight this guy, for it to end like this, it sucks.”
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Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway 2 was cut pitifully short (Image: Getty)
Conor McGregor’s return to the UFC Octagon lasted just over a minute (Image: Getty)
Elsewhere on the main card, British fighter Lone’er Kavanagh saw his flyweight title aspirations dealt a significant blow when he was submitted by Brandon Royval in an enthralling bout. Kavanagh lost the first round but came storming back in the second, only for Royval to take his back in the third and ultimately force Kavanagh to tap out to a rear-naked choke.
Earlier in the evening, Pimblett’s team-mate Luken Riley extended his unbeaten record to 14-0 with an impressive first-round stoppage victory over Kai Kamaka III. A crisp right hand sent Kamaka crashing to the mat and, although he managed to clamber back up, the referee intervened following another ferocious flurry of punches from the Englishman.
King Green opened the main card with a buzzer-beating first-round stoppage of Terrance McKinney, who had dominated the opening session. Green dropped his rival with seconds remaining and the fight was waved off after a final barrage.
Pimblett needed only 52 seconds to put Saint-Denis to sleep with a D’arce choke. The excited, and sweary, scouser said after: “Sub of the year b*****s! Know what I mean? I knew he was out. I had to say to the ref ‘he’s conscious lad, he’s out’ and he had to check him. I told everyone all week, try to grab my legs and I will choke his a*** unconscious. My man was face down eating canvas.
“I’m like a f*****g spider. When I’ve got hold of you, you don’t f*****g get out. It’s as simple as that. I’d said I was going to do it. Everyone counted me out. Everyone said I was finished because I got beat by [Justin] Gaethje but what now? Am I finished? Who wants it next?
“I’ll f*****g beat Ilia [Topuria] up, I’ll f*****g rematch Justin, I’ll fight Conor [McGregor] or Max [Holloway] next. I don’t give a f***. Give me anyone and I’ll punch their f*****g head in.”