McGregor injury extends nine-year decline from UFC peak

Conor McGregor's return bout against Max Holloway ended early due to injury, adding another setback to a career arc that has trended downward for close to a decade.

The former two-division champion withdrew from the contest, per ESPN, extending a pattern of inactivity and false starts that began shortly after his peak years holding UFC featherweight and lightweight gold. McGregor has fought sporadically since 2016, with long gaps between bouts and multiple postponements clouding any momentum.

McGregor's career since the championship years

McGregor's most dominant stretch ran from 2015 through early 2016, when he knocked out Jose Aldo in 13 seconds and later claimed the lightweight belt. Since then, fights outside the octagon and ventures into boxing have fragmented his UFC schedule. The Holloway clash was meant to signal a fresh commitment to mixed martial arts.

Instead, the injury pulled McGregor from competition again. No timeline has been announced for his next appearance, though UFC matchmakers have indicated interest in rebooking once he clears medical protocols.

Reported via:

• ESPN MMA — Injury opens another new chapter in the nine-year saga of Conor McGregor's free fall