‘For them’: Conor McGregor reveals real reason behind delayed UFC 329 comeback ahead of Max Holloway rematch (Image via Getty) Conor McGregor’s long-awaited UFC return ended in disappointment at UFC 329 after a knee injury forced the fight to be stopped in the opening round. The Irish star suffered the injury just seconds into his rematch with Max Holloway, ending what fans hoped would be a memorable comeback after five years away from MMA.Despite the anticlimactic finish, Holloway celebrated the victory by performing McGregor’s famous billionaire strut inside the Octagon. The celebration received mixed reactions from fans, with some criticizing the former featherweight champion. Holloway has now responded to those comments and explained why he believed his celebration was justified after the unusual ending.
Max Holloway defends his UFC 329 celebration as Conor McGregor explains opening attack
Max Holloway recently addressed criticism over the way he celebrated his victory against Conor McGregor at UFC 329. During a live stream, a fan questioned why he celebrated so enthusiastically after the fight ended because of McGregor’s injury instead of a clean finish.Holloway dismissed the criticism and suggested that the injury happened because of the action inside the cage. He explained that he successfully avoided McGregor’s opening kick, which caused the Irishman to land awkwardly and damage his knee. Holloway added that after McGregor lost his balance, he followed up with ground-and-pound before the referee stepped in to stop the contest.The fight ended just over one minute into the first round. McGregor charged forward immediately after the opening bell and attempted a leaping roundhouse kick aimed at Holloway. The strike failed to land cleanly, and McGregor appeared to injure his knee as he came back down to the canvas.From that moment, the former two-division champion struggled to stay balanced. He repeatedly slipped while trying to move around the Octagon, allowing Holloway to take advantage of the situation. After another fall, Holloway moved in with punches on the ground. Referee Mike Beltran closely watched the action before deciding McGregor could no longer defend himself, bringing the contest to an end.Although the defeat was a frustrating one, McGregor has made it clear that he has no plans to retire. On his birthday, the Irish superstar assured supporters that he remains determined to return to competition once he has recovered.McGregor also recently responded to criticism over his decision to throw such an aggressive attack at the start of the fight. Reacting to a fan on social media, he admitted that he mistimed the kick by a small margin. However, he disagreed with suggestions that the technique itself was a bad choice. McGregor explained that spending five years away from MMA made him overly eager to make an immediate impact. He added that he has learned from the mistake, believes the timing can be corrected, and remains confident that he is getting closer to performing at his best again.While Holloway celebrated an emotional victory and defended his actions, McGregor continues to focus on recovery.