The long-awaited return to the octagon for mixed martial arts (MMA) superstar Conor McGregor (Ireland) has ended in an anticlimactic injury.
McGregor faced Max Holloway (USA) in the welterweight main event of UFC 329, held today (July 12) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. He suffered a TKO loss just 1 minute and 9 seconds into the first round due to an injury to his right knee.
Returning to the octagon exactly five years later, McGregor entered the arena to the thunderous cheers of a capacity crowd.
However, the highly anticipated comeback match ended in a flash.
Immediately after the opening bell, McGregor crossed the octagon and attempted a flying left kick, but his right knee buckled awkwardly during the landing.
Even after the injury, McGregor showed his fighting spirit by attempting two more kicks and punches toward Holloway, but the referee determined that he could not continue and stopped the fight.
As if to console fans disappointed by the anticlimactic main event, other fighters delivered thrilling performances.
In a lightweight bout, Paddy Pimblett (UK) blocked a round kick from Benoît Saint-Denis (France) and immediately locked in a choke, securing a submission victory just 52 seconds into the first round.
In the bantamweight division, Mario Bautista (USA) took control early with leg kicks in the first round and went on to earn a unanimous decision victory over Cory Sandhagen (USA).
Flyweight Brandon Royval (USA) secured a submission win over Ronal Cabaral (UK) with a rear-naked choke at 3 minutes and 39 seconds of the third round.
The most dramatic moment of the night came during the first main card fight in the lightweight division.
Despite being bloodied and dominated by Terrance McKinney (USA) throughout the first round, King Green (USA) landed a powerful right hand to the chin with about 20 seconds left, completing a miraculous come-from-behind TKO victory at 4 minutes and 59 seconds of the first round.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)