McGregor vs. Holloway fallout continues as no contest demand emerges

Conor McGregor's return to the octagon after a five-year absence ended in disappointment at UFC 329 in Las Vegas when he faced Max Holloway in a welterweight bout. The fight lasted just 69 seconds before a stoppage loss—McGregor suffered a knee injury on his opening kick and was unable to continue, leaving him visibly compromised for the remainder of the brief encounter.

Following the loss, which dropped his record to 22–7, McGregor has called for the result to be overturned to a no contest rather than accepted as a defeat. The former UFC double champion stated on Instagram that he would receive scan results on his leg injury and requested that all betting on the bout be refunded. "A few notes 1. I will have the results of the scan on my leg tomorrow. 2. The fight should be a no contest and all bets returned," he wrote.

The setback has sparked debate about whether McGregor entered the fight with a pre-existing injury. Observers noted that he appeared to stumble and wince while removing his shoes before stepping into the cage, leading some to speculate the Irishman may have been compromised before the bell rang. However, his coach John Kavanagh and UFC CEO Dana White have both denied any prior injury, maintaining that McGregor was healthy at the start of the contest. The situation now hinges on the medical imaging and any subsequent UFC review of McGregor's formal challenge to the result.