Conor McGregor's future in the UFC hangs in the balance following a new injury during his comeback fight against Max Holloway at UFC 329. Competing for the first time in five years, McGregor suffered a knee injury early in the first round, leading to a stoppage by the referee at Las Vegas’s T-Mobile Arena, the same venue where he previously broke his leg against Dustin Poirier in 2021.

In the opening moments of the fight, McGregor attempted a running, jumping kick, which appeared to injure his knee. Despite briefly standing up after absorbing strikes from Holloway, he fell again, prompting the referee to end the bout.

Max Holloway, who had been previously defeated by McGregor in 2013, expressed his desire for a trilogy fight after this victory. However, the timeline for McGregor's return remains uncertain due to the nature of his injury, which commentator Joe Rogan suggested could involve the ACL. Such injuries typically require six to twelve months for recovery, meaning McGregor might not be fit to train until next July and could potentially miss fights until autumn.

Before the fight, McGregor had indicated that he was contracted for two upcoming dates, but expressed frustration over the timeline, questioning the delays in scheduling.

This match marked not only McGregor’s return from a broken leg but also his first bout since a civil jury found him liable for rape, a verdict he continues to appeal. Additionally, he faced challenges in 2024 with three drug-test whereabouts failures, resulting in an 18-month ban.

With these complications, the possibility of McGregor's return to the octagon remains in doubt.