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McGregor’s Comeback Ends After Early Knee Failure at UFC 329

A suspected ACL tear awaiting MRI raises urgent questions about his recovery timeline and ability to headline future UFC events.

Overview

  • The main event ended just 69 seconds in when Conor McGregor’s right knee collapsed after a flying kick, forcing a referee stoppage and giving Max Holloway a first‑round TKO.
  • UFC president Dana White and on‑site doctors say the working diagnosis is a likely ACL tear but formal imaging and a surgeon’s assessment are still pending.
  • McGregor and coach John Kavanagh have denied any pre‑existing knee problem and pointed to released warm‑up footage that shows him drilling the same kick before the fight.
  • Viral video of McGregor appearing to limp into a pain clinic days before the bout intensified public debate and drew a mix of sympathy and mocking from athletes and commentators.
  • The injury compounds McGregor’s 2021 leg break and, given his age and contract status, will shape whether he can mount a long recovery, undergo surgery and return as a pay‑per‑view headliner.