Max Holloway’s most lethal blow against Conor McGregor on Saturday came on the mic rather than the canvas.
Holloway (28-9-0) hardly broke a sweat to beat McGregor (22-7-0) in the UFC 329 main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. The Irishman appeared to blow out his knee in the opening seconds of the bout after he went for a high kick that did not land.
Moments later, McGregor fell flat on his back. The 37-year-old former champion was able to get back to his feet, but looked like he was a light push away from toppling. Veteran referee Mike Beltran called the fight just over a minute into the first round, giving Holloway an easy victory.
🚨CONOR MCGREGOR JUST BLEW OUT HIS KNEE IN THE FIRST STRIKE OF HIS FIGHT WITH MAX HOLLOWAY
— Combat Casuals (@Combat_Casuals) July 12, 2026
5 years away for this to happen…#UFC329 pic.twitter.com/moshXfA0Gk
Here’s another angle of the moment McGregor appeared to hurt his knee.
Conor McGregor…. pic.twitter.com/5cGBQGZSgl
— edusantmo (@edusantmo) July 12, 2026
Holloway couldn’t help but crack a joke at McGregor’s expense as he spoke to reporters following the match (profanity edited by LBS).
“I had him weak in the knees, I guess,” Holloway said with a smile as he addressed the media, via ESPN’s Brett Okamoto.
“We have to run it back one more time for the boys. I worked my a– off to get to 170 pounds for this fight, and to see it end like this, it sucks.”
Holloway may want a rematch, but it’s hard to imagine McGregor plans to return to the octagon anytime soon. Saturday’s fight was McGregor’s first in five years, and it ended in utter disaster.
After his second consecutive opening-round leg injury, McGregor may very well think long and hard about calling it a career.
