Conor McGregor’s long-awaited return to the UFC ended in heartbreaking fashion as the former two-division champion suffered another serious leg injury during his rematch against Max Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas. Fighting for the first time since 2021 after a five-year absence, McGregor’s comeback lasted barely over a minute before the contest was stopped, denying fans the showdown they had eagerly anticipated.
The injury occurred just moments into the opening round when McGregor’s right leg gave way during an attacking sequence, leaving him unable to continue. After struggling to stay on his feet, the Irish star was ruled out, with referee Mike Beltran waving off the contest at 1:09 of the first round. Holloway was declared the winner by TKO, while McGregor’s return ended in a painful repeat of the knee troubles that also affected his first meeting with Holloway years earlier. Here are the full results.
Max Holloway Defeats Conor McGregor After Early Leg Injury Cuts Short UFC 329 Main Event
McGregor’s return carried all the spectacle fans had been waiting years to witness. Walking out with his signature entrance music and sporting the mohawk from his early UFC days, the former two-division champion looked ready for another memorable night inside the Octagon. However, the excitement disappeared almost instantly when his right knee appeared to buckle after a jumping kick just seconds into the opening round of the UFC 329 main event against Max Holloway.
The injury left McGregor struggling to stay on his feet as he fell to the canvas multiple times while trying to continue. Holloway briefly looked toward referee Mike Beltran as it became clear his opponent could no longer fight, prompting the official to stop the contest just 1:09 into the first round. The result handed Holloway a TKO victory only 69 seconds into the rematch, cutting short one of the most anticipated comebacks in UFC history.
It marked another heartbreaking setback for McGregor, who was making his first MMA appearance since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in 2021. Ironically, he had also injured his knee during his first meeting with Holloway back in 2013, although he fought through that bout to earn a unanimous decision victory. This time, the damage proved too severe, with McGregor leaving the arena under his own power without giving a post-fight interview. While the extent of the injury remains unknown, Holloway expressed sympathy for his longtime rival and said he hopes the pair can complete a trilogy fight in the future.
Paddy Pimblett Stuns Benoît Saint Denis With 52-Second Submission at UFC 329
Paddy Pimblett delivered one of the quickest finishes of UFC 329, submitting Benoît Saint Denis in just 52 seconds during the co-main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Looking to bounce back from his previous defeat, the British lightweight wasted no time taking control after Saint Denis attempted an early takedown. Pimblett immediately threatened with a guillotine before smoothly transitioning into a D’Arce choke and finally locking in a Peruvian necktie that left the French contender unconscious in the opening minute.
Saint Denis entered the fight on a four-bout winning streak and held the No. 5 spot in the lightweight rankings, while Pimblett was aiming to revive his title hopes after losing to interim champion Justin Gaethje earlier this year. After landing the opening leg kick, Pimblett capitalised on the grappling exchange and forced the stoppage at the 52-second mark of Round 1. The emphatic victory puts the British star back in the win column and firmly back in the conversation among the lightweight division’s top contenders.
UFC 329 Complete Results: Every Winner, Main Card Highlights and Full Fight Card
| Fight | Winner | Method | Round / Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway | Max Holloway | TKO (Injury) | Round 1 – 1:09 |
| Paddy Pimblett vs Benoit Saint Denis | Paddy Pimblett | Technical Submission (D’Arce Choke) | Round 1 – 0:52 |
| Mario Bautista vs Cory Sandhagen | Mario Bautista | Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 Rounds |
| Brandon Royval vs Lone’er Kavanagh | Brandon Royval | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | Round 3 – 3:40 |
| King Green vs Terrance McKinney | King Green | TKO (Punches) | Round 1 – 4:59 |
| Robert Whittaker vs Nikita Krylov | Robert Whittaker | TKO (Punches) | Round 3 – 1:01 |
| Gable Steveson vs Elisha Ellison | Gable Steveson | KO (Punches) | Round 1 – 2:31 |
| Adrian Yanez vs Cody Garbrandt | Adrian Yanez | TKO (Strikes) | Round 1 – 2:47 |
| Luke Riley vs Kai Kamaka III | Luke Riley | TKO (Strikes) | Round 1 – 3:03 |
| Wang Cong vs Tracy Cortez | Wang Cong | Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27) | 3 Rounds |
| Damian Pinas vs Cesar Almeida | Damian Pinas | KO (Punch) | Round 1 – 4:44 |
| Farid Basharat vs John Garza | Farid Basharat | Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) | 3 Rounds |
| Ryan Gandra vs Zach Reese | Ryan Gandra | TKO (Punches) | Round 1 – 1:15 |
| Alessandro Costa vs Cody Durden | Alessandro Costa | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | Round 2 – 2:19 |
With questions now surrounding Conor McGregor’s recovery and future in the UFC, all eyes will be on what comes next after another heartbreaking setback, while Max Holloway moves forward with one of the biggest wins of his career.
