Conor McGregor forced to retire from fight seconds into comeback against Max Holloway

Conor McGregor and Max Holloway’s rematch 13 years on from their first bout at featherweight was a huge let down, with the fight ending in controversy in just one minute and nine seconds.

McGregor did not appear fully fit for the fight, with replays showing his knee looking insecure before he entered the octagon.

The Irish MMA fighter then came out flying, with a jumping kick in the opening seconds seeing him land awkwardly on that same right knee.

He was forced to retire just a minute later, with a second jumping kick seeing him drop to the ground.

McGregor stormed out the octagon as Joe Rogan interviewed the winner, Holloway, who joked that he had his opponent 'weak in the knees'.

Fans were left in stunned silence and confusion at the bout's ending, McGregor's first fight since snapping his leg in the octagon against Dustin Poirier in 2021.

The night ended in awkward fashion for anyone hoping to see McGregor fight (TNT)

The Irish fighter has been reported by the New York Times to have taken 'powerful, banned drugs' to aid his recovery from the leg break.

Ariel Helwani, a prominent MMA Journalist, tweeted: "Absolute disaster. It appears Conor McGregor blew out his knee on the very first kick he threw. Truly unbelievable."

The MMA Guru posted: "CONOR MCGREGOR JUMPS IN FOR A KICK IN THE FIRST SECOND OF THE FIGHT! SNAPS HIS FOOT AND THE FIGHT HAS TO BE CALLED OFF! THIS IS THE WORST POSSIBLE OUTCOME OF THIS MAIN EVENT!

"A LITERAL NOTHING FIGHT, THEY'LL PROBABLY RUN IT BACK. MCGREGOR LOOKED INJURED ON THE WALKOUT"

Many have speculated online that this could mark the end of McGregor's illustrious and wildly controversial career, with the fighter now being 37 years old and already having come off a different horrific leg injury.

The fight between McGregor and Holloway headlined UFC 329, a stacked card that had fights featuring Paddy Pimblett, Robert Whittaker, and English prospect Lone'er Kavanagh.

The card was full of controversy, however, due to McGregor being found liable in a civil rape case. It's been five years since his last 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.