A swift and painful end
Conor McGregor's comeback after a five-year layoff came to an abrupt halt when he tore his ACL just 69 seconds into his fight at UFC 329. The injury, sustained from a jumping roundhouse kick that landed awkwardly, ended the Irish superstar's return fight before it could begin to unfold.
McGregor tried to keep going, but the damage was too severe. The fight was called off, and with it, the hope of seeing his long-awaited return to the octagon.
Makhachev's unexpected sympathy
Even Islam Makhachev, who has no love for McGregor or his entourage, admitted he felt bad watching the injury unfold. In a statement to Complex Sports, Makhachev said he thought Max Holloway would beat McGregor, but not in such a brutal fashion.
He told reporters: 'Honestly, I feel bad. I know Max is going to beat him but not fast like this in the first minute.' Makhachev added that he wanted to see how McGregor would perform after five years away from competition but couldn't shake the feeling when the injury occurred.
McGregor's path forward
Following surgery to repair the torn ACL, McGregor is now targeting International Fight Week 2027 as his next comeback. He's been clear that this will be his final fight under his current UFC deal, leaving the door open for a potential move to free agency after that.
That’s a big shift for a fighter known for his high-profile bouts and chaotic buildups. McGregor’s next chapter may not be in the UFC, but Makhachev has his own title defense to prepare for.
A rivalry with history
McGregor and Makhachev’s teams have a long-standing animosity, dating back to 2018 when McGregor faced Khabib Nurmagomedov. The buildup to that fight was among the most volatile in UFC history, and it ended with Nurmagomedov’s infamous post-fight cage jump on McGregor’s coach.
Makhachev now heads into his own fight, set to headline UFC 330 in Philadelphia, where he will face another Irishman, Ian Machado Garry. The focus has shifted, but the echoes of old rivalries still linger.