O'Malley in shock as McGregor's comeback ends in 69 seconds at UFC 329

Conor McGregor’s long-awaited UFC comeback lasted just 69 seconds at UFC 329 on Saturday, as a leg injury forced him to stop against Max Holloway at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas — leaving fans, and fellow fighters, in stunned disbelief.

Former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley captured the mood of many McGregor supporters, posting a lengthy live YouTube reaction in which he struggled to process what he had just witnessed. McGregor had not fought since July 2021, when a broken leg began a five-year hiatus, making Saturday’s abrupt ending all the more deflating for those who had waited years for his return.

“I feel like I’m in shock,” O’Malley said. “I cannot believe what just happened. There’s no way he had a previous knee injury going into the fight. There’s no way, because you don’t come out with a f*cking double front backflip 720 spinning heel kick to the chin if your knee’s compromised. It’s hard for me to believe if he had a previous existing injury. I’m so sad right now.”

O’Malley also voiced concern about how McGregor might respond to yet another injury setback, given the former two-division champion’s well-documented personal struggles in recent years — which have included multiple allegations of sexual assault and admitted cocaine use during a civil trial in which he was found liable for sexual assault in November 2024.

“Oh God, I hope Conor doesn’t go off the f*cking deep end,” O’Malley said. “All those five years that he was off — and even those years before when he wasn’t off, but he was still in — a lot of alcohol. A lot of nose lattes. A lot of just partying and that takes a toll on your body. Then you come out there and you throw a spinning 180 900 720 kick flip kick and your shit pops.”

Despite the disappointing finish, the event was a commercial success. UFC CEO Dana White confirmed the McGregor vs. Holloway rematch broke the promotion’s all-time gate record, generating $25 million in ticket sales — underscoring just how much drawing power McGregor retains even after years away from competition.

McGregor himself has struck a positive tone since the loss, suggesting he intends to fulfil the final fight remaining on his UFC contract. O’Malley, for his part, has no doubt the appetite will be there if and when that happens.

“If Conor decides to fight again, battling the demons to come back — not even just to get to the octagon, but to get through the fight,” O’Malley said. “Everyone’s going to show up.”