Dana White Shelves McGregor-Holloway 3 After 69-Second UFC 329 Injury

Q: After another devastating injury, can McGregor's star power still defy his age and a near decade of poor results?

Yes—but mainly as a commercial force, not as a credible elite contender. McGregor’s drawing power remains extraordinary. UFC 329, despite ending after roughly a minute because of his knee injury, still produced a record UFC gate, showing that his name alone can sell tickets and command global attention after years of inactivity and losses. That is the clearest evidence that his star power still defies age and results in business terms. As a fighter, the picture is much harsher. He is 37, coming off another major leg-related injury after the broken leg against Dustin Poirier in 2021, and he may now face surgery with a recovery that could stretch from several months to a year if the damage is severe. Dana White’s caution reflects the reality: long layoffs, repeated lower-body injuries and age are difficult variables in a sport where most champions and top contenders are younger than McGregor is now. The results also matter. McGregor has only one win since 2016 and his comeback against Max Holloway ended before he could prove he still belongs near the top. Holloway, by contrast, remains active and healthy, and is unlikely to wait indefinitely for a trilogy. So McGregor can still defy decline as an attraction. Fans, broadcasters and the UFC still see him as a rare event-maker. But another devastating injury has made it much harder to argue that he can defy age and poor form inside the cage. At this stage, his value is increasingly in spectacle, not sporting legitimacy.

3 articles · Updated · MMA Mania · Jul 18

Dana White said he is "not even thinking about" a third Conor McGregor-Max Holloway fight after McGregor injured himself 69 seconds into the UFC 329 main event.
Knee surgery and a long rehab are now the priority, with White saying talks will wait until McGregor completes physical therapy and is cleared to train full time.
White also questioned McGregor's fighting future, citing his age and five-year layoff while warning that "Father Time is undefeated."
The setback clouds a comeback that drove $25 million in ticket sales and nearly 16 million U.S. Paramount+ viewers, and may derail a return the UFC had tentatively eyed for April 2027.