UFC fighters react to Conor McGregor's disastrous return defeat to Max Holloway at UFC 329
Dubbed the biggest comeback in sports history, Conor McGregor's return at UFC 329 failed to live up to expectations.
'The Notorious' spent years resting, rehabbing, and working toward a return to the octagon, the place he once called home. His prolonged hiatus began when he suffered one of the worst combat sports injuries. This severe broken leg threatened not only his career but also his quality of life following his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier. An anti-doping suspension and fight cancellations followed, but none of that mattered when the iconic Sinéad O'Connor's song "The Foggy Dew" dropped, setting the Irishman's walkout in motion.
The world stood silent and watched as the biggest MMA fighter of all time made his way to the cage. Unfortunately, the walkout lasted longer than the fight. Just seconds into the bout, Conor McGregor suffered an injury that derailed his game plan and any chance he had of winning. Nobody could have predicted McGregor would allegedly tear his ACL in the opening moments of the fight, gifting Max Holloway a 69-second TKO victory.
Shock radiated across the MMA community, leaving fellow UFC fighters to share their views on the anticlimactic end to McGregor vs. Holloway 2.
Some fighters used the opportunity to kick McGregor while he was down.
Conor beat Conor congrats Max
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) July 12, 2026
Told you Conor would never fight again!
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) July 12, 2026
That pinky toe again?? #UFC329
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) July 12, 2026
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) July 12, 2026
Bro jumped 2 seconds into the fight and blew his knee???? Game speed is different than practice
— Kevin Lee MTP (@MoTownPhenom) July 12, 2026
Iron shin bone and iron knee tendon will be back
— Paulo Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA) July 12, 2026
@BlessedMMAs aura tore Connors ACL
— Mike "Beast Boy" Davis (@MikeDavisMMA) July 12, 2026
Easy work for Max tonight. Conor beat himself
— Diana Belbiță (@DianaBelbita) July 12, 2026
#UFC329
That was not part of the gameplan.
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) July 12, 2026
Throughout his time in the spotlight, Conor McGregor has made himself some enemies.
The work he put in to reach the top came at a price, forcing many of his peers to root against him and rejoice each time he suffers a loss in his professional or personal life. Despite the strained relationships with other MMA fighters, many still felt sorry for the former double champ in his darkest hour.
Jokes aside, feel bad for Conor. Not the way the fight should have ended. #UFC329
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) July 12, 2026
Torn ACL on first kick. I know that feeling #UFC329
— Torrez Finney (@punishertorrez) July 12, 2026
Weirdly I feel bad for Conor.
— Bo Nickal (@NoBickal) July 12, 2026
Wow that's unfortunate and very disappointing!!!
— Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH) July 12, 2026
Well… that happened.
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) July 12, 2026
The first strike Conor McGregor throws is a flying kick.
His planting leg gives out on impact.
Fight, over.
MMA remains the most unforgiving sport in the world.
That's sad man. Acl in the first 5 seconds
— LERONE MURPHY (@LeroneMurphy) July 12, 2026
Making 30 million in under a minute is a wild dream 👀! #UFC329
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) July 12, 2026
That sucks 🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) July 12, 2026
I kinda feel bad for him 😕
— Sodiq Yusuff (@Super_Sodiq) July 12, 2026
Man… WTF. #WTF329
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) July 12, 2026
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This story was originally published July 12, 2026 at 7:24 AM.