Conor McGregor speaks out for first time as he's forced to retire from fight seconds into comeback

Conor McGregor returned to the UFC last night (11 July), as he faced Max Holloway for a rematch 13 years on from their first bout at featherweight.

However, it swiftly ended in a nightmare for the Irishman as he ended up retiring just one minute and nine seconds into his comeback.

After his leg gave out in the opening, McGregor stormed out of the ring as Holloway was declared the winner and refused an interview with Joe Rogan.

But he’s now spoken out on the shocking scenes as he wrote that ‘this came out of nowhere’.

The fighter’s return to the octagon came five years after his horror leg break against Dustin Poirier. And despite speculation online and footage apparently suggesting otherwise, McGregor insists he wasn’t injured ahead of UFC 329.

Earlier this morning, the controversial fighter took to X to write: “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.”

McGregor added that he is ‘beyond dark here’ as he said: “I can only describe it as hell.”

The Irish MMA fighter soon came out flying after entering the octagon, rushing at his American opponent with a kick that saw him land awkwardly on his right knee.

And he was sent dropping to the ground once again by a second jumping kick. McGregor had tried to battle through, but the referee, Mike Beltram, called off the contest for his safety.

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.

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 12, 2026

Holloway joked that he had left him ‘weak in the knees’ but called for a third bout with the Irish fighter.

Despite his statement now, viral footage from the event and on the official UFC broadcast has been described as showing that McGregor’s knee may have been injured before the fight even began.

But during the broadcast official commentator Jon Anik did clarify that they weren't speculating that he went into the fight already injured.

McGregor and Holloway’s bout headlined UFC 329, with the card also featuring Paddy Pimblett, Robert Whittaker, and English prospect Lone'er Kavanagh.

However, the night was full of controversy due to McGregor being found liable in a civil rape case. It's been five years since he last had a fight.

McGregor was found to have sexually assaulted a woman in a civil trial in Ireland in 2024, losing his appeal against the court’s finding last year. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Nikita Hand told the court McGregor raped her in a Dublin hotel in 2018. In Ireland, there is no automatic anonymity for complainants in civil sexual assault trials, unlike in the UK.