Conor McGregor makes long-awaited UFC return at UFC 329 vs Holloway

Almost 5 years after his final stroll to the Octagon, Conor McGregor made his long-awaited UFC return Saturday night time in opposition to fellow MMA star Max Holloway in the principle occasion of UFC 329 in Las Vegas.

McGregor opened aggressively, trying a working kick earlier than throwing a head kick moments later. He appeared to slide on each tries. Holloway rapidly capitalized after the second, taking high place and touchdown a proper hand earlier than McGregor was capable of work his means again to his ft.

Moments later, McGregor hit the canvas once more after attempting to throw a kick together with his proper leg, which appeared to buckle beneath him.

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Conor McGregor of Eire participates within the walkout earlier than dealing with Max Holloway of america of their welterweight bout throughout UFC 329 at T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas. (Ian Maule/Getty Photos)

The official contained in the Octagon waved off the struggle moments later, giving Holloway a TKO victory.

Throughout the broadcast, UFC CEO Dana White pointed to a first-round replay that appeared to indicate the second McGregor suffered the damage. The obvious damage was to not the identical leg McGregor broke throughout his 2021 struggle in opposition to Dustin Poirier, which led to a prolonged absence from the Octagon.

The loss prolonged McGregor’s lengthy winless drought, together with his final UFC victory coming by first-round TKO in opposition to Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in January 2020.

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McGregor earned a unanimous determination over Holloway in a featherweight conflict in 2013, when neither was an MMA megastar. Within the blink of a watch, McGregor’s star rose.

Conor McGregor and Max Holloway face off throughout the UFC 329 ceremonial weigh-in at T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 10, 2026. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

On Wednesday, he admitted he received caught up in his personal stardom after successful UFC belts in two weight lessons and turning into one of many greatest names in fight sports activities.

“I launched an Irish whiskey,” McGregor stated. “I didn’t drink closely, if in any respect, at the moment of my life. I used to be an athlete on the high of my recreation. Subsequent factor , hundreds upon hundreds of bottles (are) in my storage.

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“‘Promote this, Conor.’ OK, I’d depart my property with two bottles below my arm, and that was it. I used to be caught. And I wasn’t used to it. And that’s it. God gave me these classes. That’s it. I used to be trapped and caught, and it’s what it’s.”

Conor McGregor jumps into the air for a kick as he fights Max Holloway in a welterweight bout at UFC 329 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (John Locher/AP)

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Simpler stated than executed, maybe, because the controversial former champion has been embroiled in a number of controversies and authorized points over the previous a number of years.

The Related Press contributed to this report.