Conor McGregor's Comeback Cut Short by Injury at UFC 329

Conor McGregor's highly anticipated return to the UFC at UFC 329 ended abruptly due to a severe leg injury just seconds into the fight against Max Holloway. This marked his first competitive appearance since a serious injury in 2021. The event broke records for ticket sales, highlighting McGregor's status as a major draw in mixed martial arts. Despite the unfortunate outcome, McGregor's earnings for the fight are expected to be substantial, raising curiosity about his future in the sport.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 12, 2026, 16:47 IST

Heartbreaking Return for McGregor

Conor McGregor's much-anticipated return to the UFC after a five-year break ended in disappointment at UFC 329, where a serious leg injury led to a first-round stoppage against Max Holloway. This marked McGregor's first competitive fight since he suffered a tibia and fibula fracture against Dustin Poirier in July 2021. Just moments into the main event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, he appeared to sustain a severe knee or lower-leg injury, prompting the official stoppage at just one minute and nine seconds into the opening round. The audience was left in shock, raising concerns about the future of the 37-year-old fighter in mixed martial arts.

Record-Breaking Event

Conor McGregor Shatters Records

The event set records even before it began, as anticipated. Dana White announced that UFC 329 achieved the highest live gate revenue in UFC history, with ticket sales nearing $25 million. This fight was a rematch of their first encounter in 2013, where both fighters were trying to make their mark in the featherweight division. In their initial bout, McGregor won by unanimous decision. However, this time they faced off at welterweight, two weight classes above. McGregor remains the most marketable figure in mixed martial arts, as evidenced by his earnings from UFC 329.

Throughout his career, McGregor has secured some of the largest fight purses in UFC history. He reportedly earned around $28.48 million for his fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 and approximately $23 million for his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. His boxing match with Floyd Mayweather netted him an estimated $30 million. While the official earnings for McGregor and Holloway's rematch are yet to be disclosed, it is believed that McGregor has a guaranteed base purse of at least $15 million, excluding performance bonuses or promotional fees. His total earnings for the rematch are expected to exceed $30 million. In contrast, Holloway is set to earn over $5 million, with a guaranteed payout of $3 million.