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What happened to Conor McGregor? His long-awaited return ends with knee injury at UFC 329 vs. Max Holloway

Conor McGregor's highly-anticipated return at UFC 329 ended abruptly due to a knee injury after a failed kick.

Updated on: Jul 12, 2026, 13:27:17 IST
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Conor McGregor's return to the octagon was met with considerable curiosity. Nevertheless, once the co-main event at UFC 329 began, his bout with Max Holloway quickly deteriorated. After McGregor's first kick, which failed to connect, he appeared to land awkwardly on his right leg, sustaining what seemed to be a knee injury.

Conor McGregor, left, attacks Max Holloway with a kick at the start of a welterweight fight during UFC 329 Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP) (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via A)
Conor McGregor, left, attacks Max Holloway with a kick at the start of a welterweight fight during UFC 329 Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP) (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via A)

Shortly after the action commenced, it was clear that McGregor would not be able to proceed. Below is a glimpse of the sole clip from the very brief encounter between McGregor and Holloway.

Holloway achieved a TKO victory just seconds after the fight commenced. The second clip, one of only two from the encounter, demonstrates that following the restart, McGregor attempted to advance, but the referee immediately called off the fight when he turned away, unable to go on.

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Here's what happened at UFC 329 vs. Max Holloway

Following two additional attempts to kick and strike Holloway (28-9-0), it became evident that McGregor (22-7-0) was unable to conclude the scheduled five-round welterweight match.

McGregor, who made his entrance to the ring accompanied by the music of Notorious Biggie Smalls’ "Hypnotize" and the enthusiastic cheers of the packed audience, last competed precisely five years and one day before Saturday night.

To the excitement of an enthusiastic crowd, just hours after England triumphed over Norway in the World Cup quarterfinals, Liverpool’s Paddy Pimblett (24-4-0) swiftly defeated Benoit Saint Denis (17-4-0) with a first-round TKO.

Also Read: Who is Conor McGregor's wife Dee Devlin? Inside UFC star's marriage, children and 17-year relationship

In a bantamweight clash, Mario Bautista (18-3-0) emerged victorious against Cory Sandhagen (18-7-0) by unanimous decision, capitalizing on a first-round leg kick and maintaining pressure throughout each subsequent round. A barrage of punches in the third round ultimately secured the decision.

In a scheduled three-round flyweight contest, Brandon Royval (18-9-0) executed a rear-naked choke on Lone’er Kavanagh (10-2-0), securing victory by submission at the 3:40 mark of the final round.

In a stunning turn of events to kick off the main card, a battered King Green (36-17-0) endured a significant beating for nearly the entirety of the first round before delivering a right hand to the jaw of Terrance McKinney (18-9-0) with approximately 20 seconds remaining, ultimately finishing him with a TKO at the 4:59 mark.

  • Shweta Kukreti
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Shweta Kukreti

    Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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