The UFC 329 main card concluded with an unexpected turn of events as Max Holloway defeated Conor McGregor by TKO due to a knee injury. The fight ended at 1:09 of Round 1 after McGregor sustained the injury while attempting a jumping kick at the start of the bout. This marked an anticlimactic end to McGregor’s anticipated return to the Octagon.
McGregor’s knee appeared to give way upon landing a jumping scissor kick. Despite attempting to continue, slipping twice, referee Mike Beltran was asked by Holloway if intervention was needed. The fight proceeded briefly, but after Holloway landed a kick and McGregor took an unsteady step back, the fight was stopped. This outcome left many in “stunned disbelief,” as described by commentator Jon Anik.
Dana White, UFC President, typically avoids immediate fight announcements post-event. However, a potential rematch between Holloway and newly crowned lightweight champion Justin Gaethje is reportedly a strong consideration following this event.
Main Card Highlights
In the co-main event, Paddy Pimblett secured a quick victory over Benoît Saint Denis. Pimblett won by technical submission via D’arce choke at 0:52 of Round 1. Saint Denis initiated a takedown attempt almost immediately, but Pimblett countered with a guillotine before transitioning to the D’arce choke, rendering Saint Denis unconscious. This performance is considered one of Pimblett’s best, positioning him for a significant opportunity in the lightweight division.
Mario Bautista avenged an earlier loss by defeating Cory Sandhagen via unanimous decision with scores of 29-28, 29-28, and 29-28. Bautista’s victory came midway through the main card. Sandhagen sustained a noticeable limp after Bautista applied a Suloev stretch in the first round. Despite the injury, Sandhagen continued, but Bautista maintained pressure, securing the win and potentially moving into the Top 5 rankings.
The bout between Brandon Royval and Lone’er Kavanagh was described as chaotic and entertaining. Royval ultimately won by submission with a rear-naked choke at 3:39 of Round 3. The fight saw back-and-forth action through three rounds, with Kavanagh having strong moments. However, Royval capitalized on a guillotine attempt by Kavanagh to secure the submission. This win re-establishes Royval as a contender in the flyweight division.
Opening the main card, King Green delivered a comeback victory against Terrance McKinney. Green won by TKO due to strikes at 4:59 of Round 1. McKinney dominated the initial minutes of the round, but Green rallied in the final moments, dropping McKinney and securing the finish just before the bell. This extends Green’s winning streak to four.
Other Notable Results
Robert Whittaker made a statement return in his first fight at 205 pounds, securing a third-round TKO victory over Nikita Krylov in the featured prelim. Whittaker’s move to light heavyweight proved successful, with a powerful right hook ending the fight. This result marks Whittaker’s first prelim appearance since UFC 160.
The event also featured other preliminary bouts, with seven of the night’s fights ending inside the distance. The main card continued this trend with two more first-round finishes. The evening’s action was held at the T-Mobile Arena.
The UFC 329 event took place on Saturday, July 12, 2026.
Source: ufc.com
