An injured Conor McGregor has been forced to throw in the towel just one minute and nine seconds into his first UFC fight since suffering a broken leg five years ago.
The 37-year-old rushed at Max Holloway and hurt his knee upon landing after missing a jumping roundhouse kick, something Joe Rogan described as a “crazy” move so early in the bout.
McGregor attempted to continue as Holloway urged the referee to stop the bout, before the Irishman made the call himself.
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“About as anti-climactic an end as there could be,” Jon Anik said in commentary.
“McGregor is injured, there’s some injury he’s dealing with. Massive disappointment for Conor McGregor, my gosh.”
McGregor had not been seen in the Octagon since suffering a similarly dramatic broken leg in his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier in 2021.
“Hey guys, let’s give it up for Conor McGregor, what an absolute animal,” Holloway said as McGregor left the arena — under his own power — in disappointment.
The American immediately declared “there would be” a third fight between the pair, despite the obvious uncertainty around McGregor’s future as things stand.
“What a crazy move,” Rogan said of McGregor’s attempted kick as the UFC came to terms with what unfolded.
“When you’re in that position, when you throw that, if you don’t land in a good way with the supporting leg you put so much pressure on that knee.
“The way he landed, he landed with his knee in the worst position.”
The Las Vegas comeback was only McGregor’s fourth match since his reign as lightweight champion was ended by Khabib Nurmagomedov in the same arena nearly eight years ago.
McGregor won his next bout at welterweight against Donald Cerrone in January 2020 but lost to Poirier one year later and again in the injury-affected defeat in July 2021.
Holloway, 34, entered the McGregor fight off a loss to Charles Oliveira earlier this year, going the distance but losing a unanimous decision.
