On Saturday night, an unexpected turn of events left many spectators and viewers at home in disbelief. Conor McGregor faced yet another loss in the UFC, this time due to a surprising foot injury.
McGregor, eager to make a comeback after five years, lunged at his opponent Max Holloway with a head kick but landed awkwardly, seemingly injuring his knee.
The former two-division champion managed to stand briefly but fell again multiple times, making him susceptible to Holloway’s powerful punches as he tried to weather the onslaught.
Ultimately, McGregor’s struggle to put weight on his feet, along with Holloway’s concerned gestures towards the referee, led to the bout being stopped just 69 seconds after it began.
This shocking incident marred what was anticipated to be a thrilling match, prompting a chorus of boos from the crowd as McGregor exited the arena.
“My head gasket is gone,” McGregor expressed on social media following the fight. “I was devastated. I felt fine before the match. I was practicing kicks and jumping around earlier. This just came out of nowhere.”
Fans and media quickly speculated that McGregor might have suffered the injury prior to the fight, especially after the broadcast revealed a moment where he appeared hesitant while taking off his shoes before entering the Octagon.
However, UFC president Dana White refuted claims that McGregor entered the fight with an existing injury. “I suspect it’s an ACL tear,” he mentioned to reporters after the fight. “I doubt he had any previous injuries. That weigh-in video has been viewed over 80 million times—someone must have caught something.”
The UFC also released clips of McGregor stretching before the match, during which he seemed to kick without issues.
McGregor departed the Octagon without speaking to reporters, much to Joe Rogan’s disappointment.
“I wanted to chat with him,” Rogan commented as McGregor made his exit.
Holloway, who celebrated his victory, attempted to give credit to the injured McGregor, but the audience continued to boo.
“Let’s hear it for Conor McGregor, you guys. He’s a true fighter. Throughout, he was saying he wouldn’t back out, even urging me to keep going.”
Holloway jokingly suggested a rematch, McGregor vs. Holloway 3, from their previous bouts, but this only intensified the crowd’s disapproval.
McGregor has one fight left on his UFC contract. Still, if his knee injury is as serious as suspected, it might take four months or more to recover and even longer to be fit for competition. Should he choose to fight again, finding an opponent other than Holloway could be necessary, as Holloway had to significantly bulk up to meet the agreed catch weight of 170 pounds.
But, of course, this all hinges on whether McGregor or the UFC wishes to pursue a rematch.
