Conor McGregor‘s anticipated return to the Octagon at UFC 329 in Las Vegas concluded abruptly, with Max Holloway securing a victory after McGregor sustained a knee injury early in the first round. The fight, a rematch more than a decade in the making, took place on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at the T-Mobile Arena.
The event marked McGregor‘s first fight in five years, headlining against a familiar opponent in Holloway, a former Featherweight champion. Their previous encounter nearly 13 years prior had gone the full three rounds, but this Welterweight bout was scheduled for five, five-minute rounds.
Early Injury Halts Main Event
The main event saw McGregor attempting a jumping kick shortly after the fight began. He landed awkwardly and then attempted the move again, leading to a fall. Holloway capitalized on this, landing some strikes while McGregor was on his back. McGregor then fell again, prompting confusion from Holloway and the referee, Mike Beltran. The fight was subsequently called off due to a knee injury sustained by McGregor on his initial kick, rendering him unable to continue.
This outcome left many fans with unanswered questions regarding McGregor‘s competitive future following his lengthy hiatus, which included a significant leg injury and other distractions. For Holloway, the fight presented an opportunity to avenge a notable loss from his career and establish himself as a contender in the 170-pound division.
The rematch was highly anticipated, with McGregor entering as a betting underdog, initially at +350, which later narrowed to +180. Despite the spotlight on McGregor, the UFC 329 main card featured several other intriguing matchups and betting opportunities.
Other Bouts on the Card
The event’s main card also included a Lightweight bout between Benoît Saint-Denis and Paddy Pimblett. Pimblett, with an aggressive style, faced Saint-Denis, known for his toughness. Pimblett‘s loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 for the interim Lightweight title was noted, especially considering Gaethje‘s subsequent victory over Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 to unify the Lightweight Championship. Saint-Denis entered the fight on a four-fight winning streak, though he had never contended for a title in the UFC.
Another fight featured Cory Sandhagen against Mario Bautista in a Bantamweight rematch. Sandhagen had previously defeated Bautista by first-round submission in 2019. Bautista came into the fight in strong form, having won nine of his last ten bouts. Sandhagen, despite recent losses to highly ranked fighters, possessed more experience in major bouts, including two Bantamweight Championship fights and two title eliminator matches. He has never been knocked out in his career.
The Flyweight division saw Brandon Royval facing Lone’er Kavanagh. Royval is known for his exciting fights, with a majority of his career matches ending by knockout or submission. Kavanagh, a former five-time K-1 kickboxing champion, brought precision striking to the matchup. The card also included a Lightweight contest between King Green and Terrance McKinney. Green, a veteran with extensive experience, faced McKinney, whose career matches have consistently ended early, with his last seven fights concluding in the first round.
The UFC 329 main card commenced at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Source: sports.yahoo.com