McGregor vs Holloway LIVE!
Conor McGregor’s UFC future looks to be in major doubt after he suffered a serious-looking injury blow on his long-awaited return to the octagon. McGregor’s high-profile comeback at UFC 329 against Max Holloway on Saturday night following five years out of action lasted just 69 seconds due to a suspected anterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee sustained almost immediately as he landed badly following an attempted flying kick. McGregor’s pain was instantly apparent and he slipped to the canvas a few times in quick succession before the referee had to wave off proceedings.
The result goes down as a TKO victory for Holloway, who insists that a trilogy fight between the pair will now happen. However, another lengthy lay-off for McGregor - who turns 38 next week - will lead to inevitable questions about his status in the sport, following the horrific broken leg he sustained in the first round on his last outing against Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
Paddy Pimblett bounced back from his brutal loss to Justin Gaethje in emphatic style as he choked out Benoit Saint Denis in just 52 seconds in the co-main event at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, after Mario Bautista got revenge on Cory Sandhagen following impressive earlier wins for Brandon Royval and King Green over Lone'er Kavanagh and Terrance McKinney respectively, plus debutant Gable Steveson and Liverpool’s Luke Riley. Follow UFC 329 reaction live below!
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Max Holloway hopes for 'speedy' Conor McGregor recovery
Max Holloway has also taken to social media in the last hour after all the drama at UFC 329 last night.
Though he technically got the win to bounce back from being dominated by Charles Oliveira and dropping the symbolic ‘BMF’ title, it certainly wasn’t ideal after he had worked so hard to prepare for his welterweight debut,
“Not the outcome we wanted but God’s plan is always the right one. Thank you Conor for the fight,” Holloway wrote on X.
“Took a lot to make that walk after these past few years. Sending prayers for a speedy recovery.
“Shout out to my family, team , friends and blessed expressers for the support. What a life we live. See you at the next one.”
Conor McGregor vows after latest injury blow: I will return
We’ve heard more on social media from Conor McGregor today after his latest devastating injury setback at UFC 329.
He has once again firmly dismissed all speculation that he looked unsettled or potentially even already injured before he even stepped into the octagon against Max Holloway in Las Vegas last night.
McGregor - who turns 38 on Tuesday - has also confirmed that he intends to fight again despite staring at another lengthy lay-off.
“I was so sharp and so ready for this fight I cannot believe what has happened,” he wrote on X.
“The talk of me being off while walking in to the fight is nonsense. I was calm, ready, and confident.
“I am in shock what has taken place. The devil is literally staring at me right in front of my face here. I am not engaging. I will be at church tomorrow.
“I will overcome this. I will not be deterred. I will return.”
A later post from McGregor recites Christianity’s Nicene Creed.
Pimblett's reaction to McGregor injury
Paddy Pimblett was being interviewed by UFC at the same time Conor McGregor suffered his injury.
"Oh my god, McGregor's done already? He's finished, the new boy is in town. I can become the face of the organisation now,” Pimblett said.
"What a performance from me. I don't want to blow smoke up my own arse, but what a performance from me."
More from Dana White on a trilogy fight
Earlier we gave you UFC president Dana White’s reaction to McGregor’s injury.
Now we have more quotes on a potential third fight between McGregor and Holloway.
“We'll see how this whole thing plays out. There's a lot of unanswered questions right now that will play out over the next several days,” he told reporters.
“I don't know what's going to happen tonight, tomorrow, or Monday, and then we'll get back in the office on Tuesday.
“It's not even worth talking about right now.”
Max Holloway: Now you will get Conor McGregor trilogy fight
Here is more from Max Holloway’s post-fight interview inside the octagon with Joe Rogan...
“Let's give it up for Conor, what an absolute animal,” he said.
“You guys are lucky because there is going to be a Holloway v McGregor three now. Let's get that money.
“It is what it is. I'll sit down with the UFC. There was so much hype for that. We have to run it back one more time. We need one more.
"I was looking forward to this. I was working hard to get to 170 [lbs] and fight this guy. For it to end like this, it sucks."
UFC post footage of Conor McGregor's warm-up
As he said, there didn’t look to be any pre-fight issues for Conor McGregor here...
Conor McGregor tweets after injury blow: 'I am in hell'
Conor McGregor has now spoken for the first time since tonight’s injury via a post on X, in which he says he is “beyond dark” and “in hell” after another major setback that calls his UFC future into serious question.
He also categorically denies any suggestion that he was already injured going into the fight.
“My head gasket is gone,” McGregor writes. “Destroyed. I had no injury / injuries going into the fight.
“I was throwing kicks, planted and jumping, all throughout camp as well as backstage before the fight. This came out of nowhere.
“I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell.”
Another video gaining plenty of traction on social media was also shown by the TV broadcast team earlier on.
It shows Conor McGregor looking unsteady as he slips while kicking off his shoes before the fight.
It is being used to speculate that he may have already been carrying an injury coming into the bout.
I can’t see anything in it, though - it looks like he just loses his balance because his right foot briefly gets stuck in the shoe.
If McGregor was already protecting an injury, then flying into that sort of acrobatic kick straight away just makes no sense at all.
You can quite clearly see the moment where he wrecks the knee during that awkward landing.
Just freak stuff unfortunately again for McGregor, five years on from that horrendous leg break against Dustin Poirier - also in the first round.
On that occasion, he broke the tibia and fibula in his left leg.
Was it a wise move to try so quickly? Seems like the adrenaline just took over.
Dana White confirms suspected ACL injury for Conor McGregor
Hardly a surprise, as it’s certainly what it looked like at the time, but UFC chief Dana White has confirmed in his post-event press conference that he believes Conor McGregor has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in his right knee.
“I was expecting at least a one-round war,” White told reporters at T-Mobile Arena.
“Who knew what Conor was capable of as far as cardio or whatever else after a five-year lay-off. We’re assuming [it is a] blown ACL.
“I’m no doctor, but that’s what I figured when I saw it and doctors think the same thing too.”
There is footage now doing the rounds on social media of McGregor looking very emotional indeed as he left the arena.
Max Holloway insists third Conor McGregor fight will happen
Conor McGregor limped out and away from the octagon as Max Holloway conducted his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan.
A disappointed Holloway praised McGregor as an “animal” and gets the crowd to give him a round of applause for his efforts.
He also insists that a third fight between the pair will now happen.