Conor McGregor suffered a devastating knee injury just 69 seconds into his UFC 329 comeback fight against Max Holloway, resulting in a first-round TKO loss. The injury occurred after McGregor attempted a jumping kick, leading to an awkward landing and a suspected blown ACL. Despite the setback, McGregor posted a video on his 38th birthday, declaring, 'We'll be back!' and expressing optimism about his return to the octagon.
McGregor, who had not fought since July 2021 due to a previous leg injury, left the octagon without conducting post-fight interviews. UFC president Dana White confirmed the assumption of a blown ACL. In an emotional post-fight message, McGregor described his pain as 'hell' and insisted he had no prior injuries going into the fight.
The event drew significant attention, with UFC president Dana White announcing a record gate of $25 million. McGregor's return was highly anticipated, given his status as a popular draw in the MMA world. His last fight in 2021 also ended in injury, with a broken tibia and fibula requiring surgery and a titanium rod implant.