Sport4 min(s) read
Published 13:31 13 Jul 2026 GMT
Conor McGregor has been left in "hell" after his UFC return didn't go to plan on Saturday night (July 11), as he was forced to retire just 69 seconds into his fight against Max Holloway.
It was the Irishman's first time in the Octagon since 2021, when he suffered a tragic left leg break against Dustin Poirier.
McGregor, 37, is thought to have ruptured his ACL after one of his first actions of the bout, but this is yet to be confirmed.
The former UFC Featherweight and Lightweight champion has also been handed a suspension from competition by the NAC, which is expected to last six months, as a result of his injury.
Fans would have been disappointed by the underwhelming event, which was heavily anticipated by combat sports fans.
But while McGregor stormed out of the ring and refused to do a post-fight interview in Las Vegas, it's not all doom and gloom for the fighter as he has taken home a handsome figure for his appearance.
The 37-year-old may not have headlined UFC 329 in the way he wanted, landing awkwardly after attempting a jumping kick in the opening seconds.
McGregor, who was fighting Holloway two weight classes up and 13 years on from their first match at featherweight, tried the same kick again, causing his knee gave out, with the referee waving off the contest.
While Holloway claimed his opponent was "weak in the knees," many speculated that McGregor had entered the Octagon injured, a claim he has since disputed.
Former NFL team doctor David J Chao described him as "heroic" for trying to continue after sustaining the injury, as he suggested that he had done some damage to his ACL or MCL in his right leg.
While the pay-per-view model was scrapped by the UFC, it's believed that McGregor still earned an eye-watering amount for his 69-second stint in the ring.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show in June, McGregor shared a bit about the contract he signed for his fight against Holloway.
He explained: "We got a juicy one - was it what my worth is? Probably not. Was it what they wanted to offer? Definitely not. Definitely not. We met in the middle. I'm a fair operator.
"I love the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and I'd love to continue. Let's see how it goes," he simply said.
It's been reported that the MMA fighter will walk away with approximately $30 million, though the UFC has not confirmed this.
If this is correct, then the "Notorious" McGregor will have made $435,000 for every second he competed for in the Octagon.
Reports state that the UFC icon secured at least $15 million from the UFC, with sponsorships, promotions, and other enterprises helping to make up the other half of his kitty.
It was also said that Holloway is estimated to have earned just $3 million for the headline fight.
The result compounds a rough few years for the combat fighter, who has faced legal troubles in preceding years, having been found liable in a civil rape case in November 2024.
McGregor, who broke his left leg in his last fight, appeared dejected as he left the Octagon and headed to the changing rooms.
Unsurprisingly, he took to social media shortly after leaving the venue, posting a conspiracy theory about his injury.
Taking to X, he claimed: “My head gasket is gone. Destroyed. 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.”
