Conor McGregor's long-awaited return to the octagon lasted only 69 seconds (a significant portion of which was spent walking out). The 37-year-old Irishman stepped into the ring at UFC 329 in Las Vegas on Saturday evening, landed a left hook, and then awkwardly landed on his right knee, which proved to be enough.
The bout was officially stopped in the first minute and ninth second of the first round. McGregor (22-7-0) could not continue the fight against Max Holloway (28-9-0) in a rematch of their 2013 lightweight bout in Boston.
UFC CEO Dana White stated after the fight: 'I expected at least a one-round fight. Who knew what Conor was capable of in terms of cardio, or anything else, after a five-year break, and here it is. We suspect an anterior cruciate ligament tear. I am not a doctor, but that's what I decided when I saw it, and the doctors think so too.'
McGregor had not competed since losing to Dustin Poirier in 2021 due to a left leg fracture. He called this fight 'the return of all returns in sports history' (though it wasn't). He walked out to music by Notorious B.I.G.'s Hypnotize in front of a packed T-Mobile Arena, fighting as an underdog, and landed exactly one punch before his knee gave way.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission is expected to impose a medical suspension of his license for at least six months. At age 37, considering two leg injuries that defined his career, this leaves few chances for a new comeback.
McGregor denied sustaining the injury during the fight. He wrote on social media: 'I was throwing punches standing and jumping throughout training, and backstage before the fight. It happened suddenly. I am in a very bad state. I can only describe it as hell.'
Holloway reacted to the anticlimax with understanding: 'What can I say? I feel like I caught him weak in the knees. So much hype. We need to do this again. That it ended like this, sucks.'
McGregor's last victory in the UFC was a 40-second win over Donald Cerrone in January 2020. In 2016, he became the first fighter to hold two UFC titles simultaneously in different weight classes. It is reported that he earned over $100 million (1.83 billion rubles) from his boxing loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2017, but subsequent years were marred by lawsuits and an unsuccessful attempt to run for President of Ireland.
Thus, after five years of waiting, 69 seconds became a signal to end his career.
The UFC calendar in South Africa will continue with the fight between Dricus du Plessis and Kamaru Usman at UFC Fight Night 281 in Oklahoma City on July 18, one week after McGregor's return fell through.
