UFC 329 live blog: Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2

This is the UFC 329 live blog for Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2, the welterweight main event Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Holloway is currently ranked No. 15 at 155 pounds in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings and No. 20 in the MMA Fighting Pound-for-Pound Rankings.

McGregor and Holloway first fought in August 2013, when the two were just beginning their UFC careers as featherweights. On that day, it was McGregor who overcame a knee injury to earn a hard-fought unanimous decision win over Holloway. Both fighters went on to greater glory, with McGregor winning titles at lightweight and featherweight, and Holloway winning and successfully defending the featherweight title three times.

This is the first fight since July 2021 for McGregor (22-6), who was last seen in the octagon breaking his leg as he suffered a second loss to rival Dustin Poirier. McGregor’s long journey back has involved legal issues (including being found liable for sexual assault in a civil suit), a failed political campaign in his native Ireland, another injury that forced him out of UFC 303, and numerous other distractions, but the soon-to-be 38-year-old has vowed to rededicate himself to fighting. He has the chance to back up his words tonight.

Holloway (27-9) finds himself in a strange position as he competes at 170 pounds for the first time. “Blessed” lost his “BMF” title in a lopsided defeat at the hands of Charles Oliveira, and was also knocked out for the first time by Ilia Topuria not long ago. However, he also holds recent wins over Poirier and current lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. Where does a win over the popular McGregor take Holloway next? More concerning, where does he go with a loss?

Check out the UFC 329 live blog for Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2 below.

Preamble: Holloway walks out and gives his wife a kiss, and his son Rush a hug before entering the cage. And now comes McGregor for his first walkout in five years.

Round 1: Mike Beltran gets things going for this five-round main event! McGregor rushes for a jumping kick but falls on his back and Holloway is all over him already. McGregor gets back up. McGregor appears to be hurt and he’s down again. Holloway signalizes to the referee but he allows it to continue. McGregor is back up and clearly injured. It’s over! WOW! McGregor has an injury to his knee, apparently.

Replay shows McGregor injured his right knee when he attempted the jumping kick.

Official result: Max Holloway def. Conor McGregor via first-round TKO (injury) (1:09)