'Embarrassing': Conor McGregor's instant knee injury at UFC 329 leaves MMA world dumbfounded
· Yahoo Sports
Conor McGregor’s comeback fight at UFC 329 won’t soon be forgotten. Unfortunately, that’s not a good thing.
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After five years away from MMA, McGregor appeared to suffer a devastating knee injury in the opening exchange of Saturday’s UFC 329 rematch against Max Holloway inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. McGregor attempted to fight through his misfortune, but ultimately referee Mike Beltran was forced to wave off the contest after just 69 seconds.
The outcome is not only a brutal blow for the UFC, which banked its biggest live gate in company history with UFC 329, per UFC CEO Dana White, but also an anticlimactic end to the ongoing saga of the biggest star MMA has ever produced. McGregor’s return bout had been a major storyline in the sport since his 2021 trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier ended in the former two-division champion suffering a gruesome broken leg.
McGregor, 37, entered Saturday night with two bouts remaining on his UFC contract and was expected to return again sometime in early 2027. That target date, of course, is now in jeopardy as the Irishman seeks likely treatment on his right knee.
Unsurprisingly, the disappointing end to McGregor vs. Holloway 2 elicited plenty of reaction from fellow UFC fighters and McGregor rivals alike, ranging from suspicion amid today’s gambling-obsessed sports world to empathy and delight over the Irishman’s misfortune. A sampling of that reaction can be seen below.
Conor beat Conor congrats Max
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) July 12, 2026
That pinky toe again?? #UFC329
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) July 12, 2026
Jokes aside, feel bad for Conor. Not the way the fight should have ended. #UFC329
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) July 12, 2026
Told you Conor would never fight again!
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) July 12, 2026
Didn’t he tear his acl first time they fought ?
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) July 12, 2026
Paddy vs max tomorrow ?
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) July 12, 2026
Somebody keep an eye on Conor; real talk. Tonight was a huge night and he’s a guy who loves the spotlight(he’s earned his spotlight so this is no hate) and he’s very likely more devastated than any of us can understand. If you’re close to him be there for him!
— The Thugjitsu Master (@thugjitsumaster) July 12, 2026
Just give us Max vs. Paddy tonight as the backup main event. 😅 Neither of them took any damage.
— Diana Belbiță (@DianaBelbita) July 12, 2026
#UFC329
Welp... #ufc329pic.twitter.com/JMc6s0vKDX
— Joe Joe Giannetti 💀 (@Giannettimma) July 12, 2026
Bro wtf just happened. That’s the most embarrassing thing in the world to happen.
— Kevin Lee MTP (@MoTownPhenom) July 12, 2026
Can you imagine how pissed people would be if that was PPV
— Kevin Lee MTP (@MoTownPhenom) July 12, 2026
Max had the easiest night a fighter ever had in history. Huge payday, no weight cut, didn’t have to throw a single punch and gets a W!!
— Kevin Lee MTP (@MoTownPhenom) July 12, 2026
Im laughing but I’ve done that type of thing my self. After returning from double ACL surgery I blew my knee out jumping into the octagon before the fight started 🤦♂️ it’s embarrassing asf but I get it.
— Kevin Lee MTP (@MoTownPhenom) July 12, 2026
Will we get @MikeChandlerMMA vs @TheNotoriousMMA now? #ufc329
— Mike Pierce (@MikePierce170) July 12, 2026
Good night everyone! This one was sad 5 years to comeback to get hurt again, looks like he blew his acl if it’s true it’s at least another year 🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️ #UFC329
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) July 12, 2026
Good for max he make a baggg
— C H🖕🏽T O🇪🇨V E R A (@chitoveraUFC) July 12, 2026
Connor said I’m
— Brian Ortega (@BrianTcity) July 12, 2026
Not and Ortega he will give him real competition. Mmmmhhhhh 🤔🤔🤔.
Wow that’s unfortunate and very disappointing!!!
— Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH) July 12, 2026
Also who ever put that 900k on Max right before the fight is getting investigated!!!
— Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH) July 12, 2026
What do you guys think about the growing influence of betting in sports?
— Vitor Belfort (@vitorbelfort) July 12, 2026
Betting companies and prediction markets are now sponsoring athletes, fighters, and major events. Sometimes I wonder: at what point does it become hard for fans to trust what they’re watching?
I’m not… pic.twitter.com/G0ehX38gvA
Iron shin bone and iron knee tendon will be back
— Paulo Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA) July 12, 2026
That was realy unhappy (MC), but all the other fights on that card where excellent.
— Jiri BJP Prochazka (@jiri_bjp) July 12, 2026
Letsgo for training ⚡️
Letsgo to push the limits and be Stronger then ever
LETSGOFORTHAT⚡️♾️⚡️
Ain’t no way ……..
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) July 12, 2026
Making 30 million in under a minute is a wild dream 👀! #UFC329
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) July 12, 2026
Weirdly I feel bad for Conor.
— Bo Nickal (@NoBickal) July 12, 2026
That’s sad man. Acl in the first 5 seconds
— LERONE MURPHY (@LeroneMurphy) July 12, 2026
Check out complete UFC 329 results, highlights and round-by-round updates here.