Joe Rogan criticizes Conor McGregor kick that ended UFC 329

Conor McGregor's comeback lasted 69 seconds after he appeared to blow out his knee on a jumping roundhouse kick against Max Holloway at UFC 329 on Saturday night.

The Irishman exploded out of his corner to start the welterweight main event at T-Mobile Arena, launching the kick in the opening exchange. Replays showed his right knee buckling on the landing. Referee Mike Beltran stopped the fight after McGregor collapsed twice trying to stand, awarding Holloway the technical knockout at 1:09 of round one.

Rogan calls McGregor's opening kick 'crazy'

UFC commentator Joe Rogan criticized the decision to throw such a risky strike from the opening bell. "He just tried a crazy move," Rogan said during the broadcast, per MMA Fighting. "He tried a jumping roundhouse kick and when you're in that position when you throw that jumping roundhouse kick, if you don't land in a good way with the supporting leg, you put so much pressure on that knee. The way he landed, he threw the kick, he jumped up, he threw it and he landed with his knee in the worst position."

McGregor sat in the corner while medical personnel attended to him before leaving the octagon with help from his team. He did not speak to Rogan or make a post-fight statement. The injury marks the second straight fight-ending setback for the former two-division champion, who broke his leg against Dustin Poirier in 2021.

McGregor turns 38 this week. The Sherdog report noted he had beaten Holloway by decision in their 2013 meeting, his first and only previous win over the Hawaiian. With five years between UFC appearances and two consecutive injury stoppages, the SBG Ireland cornerstone could be looking at another lengthy layoff.

Original reporting:

• mmafighting.com — Joe Rogan laments Conor McGregor trying ‘crazy move’ that led to injury ending UFC 329 main event | MMA Fighting
• sherdog.com — Knee injury ends Conor McGregor’s return 69 seconds into UFC 329 main event