07/12/26 02:15:00
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07/12 01:52 CDT Conor McGregor suffers early knee injury in return, loses to
Max Holloway at UFC 329
Conor McGregor suffers early knee injury in return, loses to Max Holloway at
UFC 329
By W.G. RAMIREZ
Associated Press
LAS VEGAS (AP) --- Conor McGregor's return against Max Holloway at UFC 329
ended unceremoniously at just 1:09 of the first round Saturday night because of
a knee injury.
Fighting for the first time in more than five years, McGregor flew across the
ring with a flying left roundhouse kick when the match started and landed
awkwardly on his right knee.
After attempting to kick and strike Holloway (28-9-0) two more times, it was
clear McGregor (22-7-0) couldn't finish the scheduled five-round welterweight
bout.
"My head gasket is gone. Destroyed," McGregor said on social media. "I had no
injury / injuries going into the fight. I was throwing kicks, planted and
jumping, all throughout camp as well as backstage before the fight. This came
out of nowhere. I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell."
Asked if there may have been an existing injury, UFC President Dana White said
there were no signs of it Friday at the ceremonial weigh-in.
"Five years off in this sport is rough," White said. "We're assuming a blown
ACL. That's what I assumed when I saw it, and that's what the doctors think,
too."
White added that with the millions of social-media views of McGregor rushing
Holloway at the weigh-in, someone would have noticed if anyone was injured.
Holloway said he kept telling referee Mike Beltran to stop the fight because it
was apparent McGregor was injured, but the former champion kept saying, "Fight!"
"During the fight, you could see his demeanor change," Holloway said. "When I
saw him hurt, I said, ?Call this, he's hurt.'
"I just hope for a speedy recovery."
Holloway closed a -300 favorite at Bet MGM Sportsbook, which means a bettor
would have to lay $300 to win $100. McGregor was a +240 underdog, which means a
bettor would win $240 with a $100 wager on the Irishman.
McGregor, who strolled to the ring to the sounds of Notorious Biggie Smalls'
"Hypnotize" and the roar of the sold-out crowd, last fought exactly five years
and a day before Saturday night.
The fans were also treated to Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham serving as
a guest ring girl before the first round of the main event. White said it was
decided eight minutes before she strolled around the cage in a black top and
sequenced shorts, stopping occasionally to replicate her highly popular finger
point from the recent game against the Phoenix Mercury.
To the delight of a frenzied audience just hours after his home country of
England won its quarterfinal match over Norway in the World Cup, Liverpool's
Paddy Pimblett (24-4-0) made quick work of Benoit Saint Denis (17-4-0) with a
first-round TKO. Pimblett, who closed a +120 underdog, blocked a roundhouse
kick, shot in and quickly applied a D'Arce Choke to put Saint Denis to sleep
for the win in 52 seconds.
"Light work," Pimblett said with a smile at the post-fight press conference.
"Mother (expletive) got slept."
In a bantamweight battle, Mario Bautista (18-3-0) defeated Cory Sandhagen
(18-7-0) by unanimous decision, after taking advantage of a first-round leg
kick and applying pressure in each round after. A flurry of punches in the
third round secured the decision.
In a scheduled three-round flyweight bout, Brandon Royval (18-9-0) applied a
rear-naked choke on Lone'er Kavanagh (10-2-0) to win by submission at the 3:40
mark of the final round.
In an absolute shocker to start the main card, a bloodied King Green (36-17-0)
overcame a beating for nearly the entire first round before landing a right
hand to the jaw of Terrance McKinney (18-9-0) with roughly 20 seconds left, and
then finished him off for a TKO at the 4:59 mark.
___
AP MMA: https://apnews.com/hub/mixed-martial-arts
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