UFC 329 Post-Fight Analysis — McGregor’s Comeback Ends in Heartbreak as Pimblett, Steveson, and Others Steal the Show
UFC 329 had every ingredient for a legendary International Fight Week card, and while the main event ended in gut-wrenching fashion at just 69 seconds, the rest of the T-Mobile Arena crowd in Las Vegas was treated to a finish-fest that tied a UFC record with 11 stoppages across the entire card. Here’s a complete breakdown of everything that went down at UFC 329.
The McGregor Comeback Dream Dies in 69 Seconds
There is no way around it, this was one of the most devastating and confusing moments in recent UFC history. Conor McGregor, fighting for the first time in over five years, walked into the T-Mobile Arena to a deafening reception and then lasted just 1:09 of Round 1 before referee intervention ended his welterweight bout against Max Holloway.
Here is what happened: right out of the gate, McGregor unleashed an attempted flying left roundhouse kick, a flashy, aggressive opener consistent with the high-risk, high-reward style that defined his peak years. But he landed awkwardly on his right knee, and from that moment forward, it was clear something was structurally wrong. McGregor attempted to continue, he threw a couple more strikes trying to mask the injury, but the knee buckled further with each movement, and referee Mike Beltran had seen enough.
Max Holloway (now 28-9) wins by TKO due to a knee injury at 1:09 of Round 1, and McGregor falls to 22-7. The crowd inside T-Mobile Arena went silent. Nobody wanted to see the fight end this way, not the bettors who had McGregor at +240 odds, not the MMA faithful who spent months debating whether “The Notorious” still had the power and timing to compete at welterweight, and certainly not McGregor himself.
There was speculation that McGregor came into the fight with a pre-existing injury to that right knee. He was seen gingerly hopping on that right knee when taking off his shoe while entering the Octagon.
However, McGregor took to X to shoot down any notion that he came into this fight against Max Holloway injured.
From an analytical standpoint, the writing was always on the wall for injury risk. McGregor had already suffered a catastrophic leg fracture in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier back in 2021, which was the event that triggered this entire extended layoff. Returning after five-plus years at 37 years old, moving up to welterweight, where he had previously taken heavy damage, always carried injury risk.
The question coming in was always about ring rust, cardio, and power, and unfortunately, the fight never got to answer any of those questions. What happens next for McGregor remains uncertain. At 37 with a second major knee incident on record, this may well be the last time we see the Irishman inside the Octagon.
Paddy Pimblett Shocks the World With a 52-Second Submission Masterclass
If there was a silver lining to the main event ending early, it was that UFC 329 had already delivered one of the most shocking co-main event finishes in recent memory. Paddy Pimblett (now 23-4) submitted Benoit Saint Denis (17-4) in just 52 seconds of Round 1, using a D’Arce choke off a failed takedown attempt to put “God of War” to sleep before the crowd even had a chance to settle in.
The significance of this win cannot be overstated. Saint Denis had been one of the most terrifying lightweights on the roster, a physical, ferocious Frenchman with elite wrestling and brutal knockout power. He entered UFC 329 ranked No. 5 in the world at 155 pounds. The perception coming into this fight was that BSD’s grappling would give Pimblett fits, and his power would be the deciding factor if the fight stayed standing.
None of that materialized. Saint Denis shot for a takedown of his own in the opening exchange, and Pimblett, often criticized for sloppy defensive grappling, immediately worked for his neck, secured the D’Arce choke from a standing position, and dragged Saint Denis to the mat to finish the fight. It was seamless, technical, and emphatic.
Liverpool’s finest walked out of T-Mobile Arena not just with a win, but with the biggest statement performance of his UFC career. His lightweight title ambitions are now very much alive. The question the division now has to answer: Is Paddy Pimblett back into title contention, and who is next for the Scouser?
Gable Steveson’s UFC Debut Signals a New Era in the Heavyweight Division
The most anticipated debut on the preliminary card delivered everything it promised. Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson (now 4-0) made his UFC walk with Jon Jones in his corner and wasted no time showing T-Mobile Arena exactly what the hype was about, finishing Elisha Ellison by KO at 2:31 of Round 1.
What made this performance so fascinating was the manner of the finish. Steveson, a multi-time NCAA champion and Olympic freestyle wrestling gold medalist, didn’t even need to use his wrestling to win. After a failed takedown attempt early in the fight, he unleashed a striking combination that featured numerous kicks, clinch knees, and elbows before landing a seismic left cross that put Ellison out cold at the halfway mark. Steveson landed 41 strikes at a 71% accuracy clip; Ellison only connected on 14. Those numbers are absurd for any heavyweight, let alone a UFC debutant.
Greg Jackson, who has coached the likes of Georges St-Pierre, Jon Jones, Holly Holm, and others, said before the fight that Steveson “might be redefining the sport.”
After Saturday night, that assessment no longer feels like hyperbole. When asked by Joe Rogan what was next, Steveson replied simply that “time would tell”, but there was nothing ambiguous about his performance. The heavyweight division has a new face and it’s only a matter of time before rankings committees have to acknowledge him.
Undercard Standouts — Robert Whittaker, Mario Bautista, and King Green Deliver Fireworks
The rest of the card was littered with memorable moments, many of which would have headlined any other fight night.
Robert Whittaker made a stunning debut at light heavyweight, moving up from middleweight to stop Nikita Krylov via TKO in Round 3 at 1:01 with a punch that literally broke Krylov’s jaw. The commentary team picked it up in real time, “He broke it,” as Krylov’s chin visibly shifted sideways on the replay.
Whittaker (now 27-9) showed zero transition problems at 205 pounds and reacted post-fight with characteristic composure: “By no means am I unhappy that I hurt him. He would have done it to me.” A top-five ranking at light heavyweight is very much on the table for the former middleweight champion.
Mario Bautista waited seven years to avenge his 2019 submission loss to Cory Sandhagen, and he did it in impressive fashion, battering Sandhagen’s leg and scoring eight takedowns and three submission attempts en route to a unanimous decision win, with all three judges scoring it 29-28. Bautista attempted a kneebar at the end of round 1 that compromised Sandhagen’s lead leg, which made Sandhagen a shell of his normal self by the final bell.
King Green delivered one of the most dramatic finishes of the night. Taking a beating for almost the entire first round against Terrance McKinney, a bloodied Green somehow found the composure to keep attacking McKinney’s body until he landed a right hand to the body with roughly 10 seconds left, then swarmed him for the TKO at 4:59 of Round 1.
The resilience was extraordinary. Green improved to 36-17 and reminded everyone that the 39-year-old veteran still has ice in his veins in the tightest moments.
Brandon Royval continued his solid form by submitting Lone’er Kavanagh with a rear-naked choke in Round 3 at 3:40 in the flyweight bout.
Also, can’t forget the three highlight reel finishes on the prelims. Damian Pinas became the first person to knock out Cesar Almeida, a kickboxing specialist, something even Alex Pereira couldn’t do.
Liverpool’s Luke Riley remains unbeaten in his professional career and inside the Octagon with a big TKO win over the durable veteran Kai Kamaka III.
Also, don’t forget the one-punch power of middleweight Ryan Gandra, who floored Zachary Reese in round 1 to keep his knockout streak alive.
Final Thoughts
UFC 329 set a co-record for the most finishes in a single event with 11 stoppages, tying a benchmark set by several legendary cards in UFC history. Despite the emotional devastation of the main event, the card delivered on its promise of action. Paddy Pimblett staked his claim to a lightweight title shot, Gable Steveson announced himself as the new heavyweight to watch for, and Robert Whittaker reminded the world that he is a problem at any weight class. The McGregor story is not over yet, but Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena, Max Holloway walked away the undisputed winner of International Fight Week.