Islam Makhachev trolls Conor McGregor following UFC 329 injury

UFC welterweight and former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev took a lighthearted jab at Conor McGregor following the Irishman's injury-marred defeat to Max Holloway at UFC 329. McGregor suffered a knee injury on his very first strike of the rematch, preventing him from establishing proper footwork and leading to an early referee stoppage.

Makhachev, who shares a mentor in Khabib Nurmagomedov—McGregor's historic rival—commented "Conor beat Conor congrats Max" on social media, playfully suggesting that McGregor had defeated himself rather than being stopped by Holloway's offense. The jab was characteristic of the champion's public interactions regarding McGregor, whose return to competition ended in anticlimactic fashion at the Las Vegas event.

The rivalry between Nurmagomedov and McGregor, which originated from their 2018 championship bout—the highest-grossing pay-per-view in UFC history—continues to define narratives in the sport. Makhachev himself is set to defend his welterweight title against Ian Garry at UFC 330, a bout that carries implications for the Dagestan-Ireland storyline that has captivated the MMA community for years.