Reaction from UFC 329 in Las Vegas
Conor McGregor's return to the octagon after a five-year hiatus ends in 69-second defeat to Max Holloway
McGregor had not fought since July 2021 when he broke his leg in defeat to Dustin Poirier
Irishman suffered knee injury in opening moments and referee called off fight
Earlier, Liverpool's Paddy Pimblett beat Benoit Saint-Denis in just 52 seconds in co-main event
McGregor v Holloway 2
Almost 13 years ago, Conor McGregor and Max Holloway went toe-to-toe at UFC Fight Night.
The fight wasn't even at the top of the preliminary card in Boston as McGregor secured a unanimous decision victory over Holloway.
Image source, Getty ImagesMcGregor v Holloway 2
Joe Rogan
UFC commentator on TNT Sports
The sound in this place is insane.
McGregor v Holloway 2
McGregor v Holloway 2
What you see when Max Holloway steps inside the cage is plenty of strikes to the head as he looks to land the knockout blow.
You don't often see him opt for the leg kicks but he will occasionally turn to the body to inflict damage.
Let's see what we get here.
McGregor v Holloway 2
Joe Rogan
UFC commentator on TNT Sports
I think one of the big factors in this fight is pace.
If this goes into the deep rounds, Holloway has shown time and time again that he can keep up an insane pace. He has the most significant strikes landed of any UFC fighter in history. That is not a small feat; it is a huge factor
McGregor v Holloway 2
And now, here comes Conor McGregor.
McGregor v Holloway 2
Max Holloway is pretty incredible to watch in the octagon. His gas tank is pretty much bottomless with 12 knockout finishes.
Holloway also holds two records at lightweight for his striking output:
McGregor v Holloway 2
If anything sums up Max Holloway, then it's the BMF title.
Holloway won the belt with that stunning knockout win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 and held it for nearly two years.
His reign ended at UFC 326 in a unanimous decision to Charles Oliveira.
Image source, Getty ImagesUse 'Get involved' to have your say
Currently in Orlando so it’s only 11pm here. Wide awake and for once not going to miss the main card after falling asleep.
Hannah, Cardiff
McGregor v Holloway 2
Max Holloway is a UFC legend and he's not done yet.
If he picks up his 24th UFC win here, he'll move up to joint-third for the most all-time victories.
What an achievement that'd be.
McGregor v Holloway 2
It's time.
Max Holloway is on his way to the cage.
McGregor v Holloway 2
Conor McGregor has not fought since breaking his leg in the defeat to Dustin Poirier in 2021, but he has featured in the headlines since.
Below, we've provided a timeline of McGregor's career.
McGregor v Holloway 2
In 2016, Conor McGregor became the UFC's first simultaneous double champion.
He's one of four to have done so.
McGregor v Holloway 2
Both Conor McGregor and Max Holloway favour the head when striking, with 70% of McGregor's strikes landing there and 65% of Holloway's.
McGregor built a reputation for finishing fights inside the distance, with only 7% of his bouts going to decision, although it's worth bearing in mind that he has been inactive for five years.
Holloway, meanwhile, does not boast a prolific finishing rate with 56% of his fights going the distance.
McGregor v Holloway 2
It has been 1,827 days since Conor McGregor last fought in the UFC.
McGregor has not set foot inside the cage since he broke his leg in a first-round stoppage loss to Dustin Poirier on 10 July 2021.
McGregor v Holloway 2
Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor's rivalry reached its conclusion at UFC 229 in October 2018.
The build-up was toxic after Nurmagomedov's team had a confrontation with McGregor's training partner, Artem Lobov. In retaliation, McGregor and his crew stormed the Barclays Center in New York and threw a steel dolly at a bus carrying Khabib and other fighters.
But in the cage, the Russian submitted McGregor in the fourth round with a brawl involving both teams to come.
Image source, Getty ImagesMcGregor v Holloway 2
Conor McGregor went on to become the UFC featherweight champion after winning seven successive fights.
After the second round TKO win over Eddie Alvarez in November 2016, the 37-year-old then made history when he won the lightweight title three fights later - becoming the UFC's first simultaneous double champion.
Image source, Getty ImagesMcGregor v Holloway 2
Ireland's Conor McGregor signed for the UFC in 2013 as a featherweight and became unified champion after winning seven successive fights.
But his first fight came in April 2013 when he secured a first-round knockout against Marcus Brimage.
The win also earned McGregor his first "Knockout of the Night" award.
Image source, Getty ImagesMcGregor v Holloway 2
On to the main event...
Pimblett beats Saint-Denis by submission
Well, that was pretty good!
Paddy Pimblett said, "anyone can get it" but also happened to mention Ilia Topuria.
The two don't like each other and could make for a stunning fight.