Conor McGregor blows out knee in shocking return. The UFC 329 main event between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway ended sooner than expected after an unfortunate injury changed the course of the fight.
The long-awaited rematch between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway finally took place on July 11, 2026, as the two UFC stars collided in the main event of UFC 329 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. More than 13 years after their first meeting, the two fighters stepped into the Octagon once again, carrying years of experience, championship achievements, and unfinished business into one of the most anticipated fights of the year.
When McGregor and Holloway first met in 2013, McGregor secured a unanimous decision victory over the young Hawaiian prospect. Since then, both men transformed their careers and became icons of mixed martial arts.
McGregor went on to become a two-division UFC champion, capturing the featherweight and lightweight titles, while Holloway established himself as one of the greatest featherweights in UFC history and became a former champion.
McGregor has not competed since his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. That fight ended in heartbreaking fashion when the Irishman suffered a broken tibia at the end of the opening round, forcing the cageside doctor to stop the contest and award Poirier a first-round TKO victory. It marked McGregor’s second consecutive loss to Poirier after also being stopped by strikes at UFC 257 earlier that year. Those defeats left McGregor with just one victory in his last four UFC appearances, which was a 40-second knockout of Donald Cerrone in January 2020. Since then, injuries and a lengthy absence have kept the former two-division champion out of action, making UFC 329 his first fight in nearly five years.
Unlike McGregor, Max Holloway has continued to compete against the sport’s best. In April 2024, Holloway produced one of the greatest moments in UFC history by knocking out Justin Gaethje in the final second of their five-round battle at UFC 300 to capture the symbolic BMF title. The spectacular finish earned widespread praise and instantly became one of the most memorable knockouts ever seen inside the Octagon. Later that year, Holloway challenged Ilia Topuria for the UFC featherweight championship but suffered the first knockout defeat of his professional career. Rather than allowing the setback to define him, Holloway rebounded in July 2025 by defeating Dustin Poirier via unanimous decision in their trilogy bout, successfully defending the BMF title while spoiling Poirier’s retirement fight. His most recent outing came at UFC 326 in March 2026, where he lost the BMF title to Charles Oliveira by unanimous decision after five rounds. Although it was a disappointing result, Holloway once again proved his durability and willingness to face the toughest opponents available.
The fight began with both former champions looking composed as they met in the center of the Octagon. McGregor wasted little time pressing forward, showing the aggression that made him one of the UFC’s biggest stars.
Less than a minute into the contest, McGregor attempted a flying kick. As he landed, his right knee buckled awkwardly, causing him to stumble to the canvas. Although he briefly tried to continue, it quickly became apparent that something was seriously wrong. McGregor lost his footing multiple times while attempting to stand and could no longer defend himself effectively. Referee Herb Dean stepped in and waved off the contest at 1:09 of Round 1, awarding Holloway the victory by TKO due to injury.
The bout marked McGregor’s long-awaited return to the UFC after nearly five years away from competition. Fans had hoped for another memorable chapter in his rivalry with Holloway, but the contest ended before either fighter had the opportunity to establish any real rhythm. The injury immediately raised concerns throughout the arena, with UFC President Dana White later indicating there was concern McGregor may have suffered a torn ACL, though the full extent of the injury is expected to be determined through further medical evaluation.
For Holloway, the victory was bittersweet. Although he earned the win, it came under unfortunate circumstances rather than through a decisive exchange. After the fight, Holloway expressed respect for McGregor and suggested he would be open to a third fight should the Irishman recover and choose to compete again.
