McGregor On Holloway's UFC 329 Mercy

Conor McGregor has criticized Max Holloway for alerting the referee to his ACL injury during their UFC 329 main event in July.

The fight lasted just over one minute before being called off after McGregor landed awkwardly off a jumping kick attempt. Holloway motioned to referee Mike Beltran that something was wrong with McGregor's leg, prompting the stoppage. McGregor told Robert O'Neill on the MAC Energy YouTube channel that Holloway should have pressed for a finish instead, according to MMA Fighting.

"If I fight you and you look for the ref, 'Ref! Stop the fight!' Who stops the fight?" McGregor said. "Don't stop! You're the man calling for the fight to be stopped. The fight's only began."

McGregor Targets Summer 2027 Return

The Irish star remains sidelined until at least summer 2027 as he recovers from the knee injury. He told O'Neill he views the comeback as a chance to pull off the greatest return in MMA history. "I yearn for retribution," McGregor said. "It drives me on. I have this journey. I have this task ahead of me. I have the title of the greatest comeback in sports history."

McGregor's next bout is expected to be the final fight on his current UFC contract. He has stated he wants to continue working with the promotion that has been his combat sports home since 2013.

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• BJPenn — Conor McGregor criticizes Max Holloway for showing mercy in UFC 329 disaster: “Finish the f*cking fight”