UFC 329 was full of surprises on Saturday night, from the disastrous Conor McGregor comeback to Paddy Pimblett blowing through Benoit Saint Denis in less than one minute.
But before Pimblett stole the show in the co-main event, it was WNBA fan favorite Sophie Cunningham who generating buzz and trending on social media.
Cunningham, who became a star thanks to her role as Caitlin Clark’s enforcer on the Indiana Fever, made an unexpected cameo as a UFC ring girl before the start of the co-main event. Cunningham walked around the Octagon to signal Round 1, and then dropped her viral finger point taunt.
At the post-fight press conference, UFC boss Dana White explained how the Cunningham cameo came to fruition, saying it was a last-minute decision that was made on a whim “about eight minutes before she did it.”
Dana White says he hired Sophie Cunningham as the ring girl “about 8 mins before she did it” pic.twitter.com/CF4aRQ49LC
“We’ve created a relationship, and she was here tonight. “When she walked in, she goes, “Oh, I want to walk around that.’ I said, ‘Then you’re gonna walk around it.'”
Cunningham was in Las Vegas ahead of the Fever’s Sunday night showdown with the A’ja Wilson and the Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena in primetime. Let’s hope that things go better for Cunningham and the Fever than they did for the UFC in the main event on Saturday night.
Tip-off is set for 9:00 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
Jul 11, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham works as a ring girl during UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
While MMA fans finally received their long-awaited wish to see Conor McGregor back in the cage, the joy was short-lived after the fighter went down with an injury in the opening round.
Shortly after the opening bell, McGregor ran right at Max Holloway in the center of the Octagon. The Irishman threw an erratic, off-balance kick toward the Hawaii native, in which his right leg landed awkwardly and pushed forward, causing what many are calling an internal right knee injury. Dana White has stated his belief that McGregor injured his ACL in the mishap.
McGregor initially continued to power through the pain despite Holloway pleading with the referee to give his opponent time because he was visibly injured. However, "The Notorious" was unable to put any weight on that right knee and was forced to call it quits on his return.
Here's the latest after The Notorious' return ended early due to injury.
Holloway defeated McGregor with 3:54 remaining in the first round after the referee was forced to stop the bout. "The Notorious" could not continue due to an apparent knee injury, which the broadcast later shared was "a right internal knee injury." After unleashing just one kick in the opening sequence, McGregor's right leg awkwardly landed on the canvas. After that, the fighter was unable to put any sort of weight on his right leg, and eventually was forced to bow out of his return.
Here is a look at McGregor's kick that caused his lingering injury.
In the ensuing seconds, McGregor hobbled around the cage, with Holloway even asking the referee to stop the fight because the Irishman was obviously injured. Here's when McGregor shook his head at the referee, and forfeited his long-awaited return into the octagon:
A lone positive for McGregor was that tonight's injury occurred on his right leg. In his most recent fight prior to tonight's bout, McGregor broke a part of his left leg, so the damage may have been far more severe had it happened to his opposite leg. Here's a look at McGregor walking out after his defeat:
According to UFC CEO Dana White, McGregor's outlook is far from promising. "We're assuming blown ACL," White said during the postfight press conference. "The doctors think the same thing too."
🚨 Dana White's immediate reaction to Conor McGregor's injury:
"I was expecting AT LEAST a one round war... We're assuming blown ACL. The doctor's think the same thing too." #UFC329pic.twitter.com/yQ5AXEumhD
At the moment, there is no official diagnosis for McGregor's exact injury. That said, the Nortorious One did weigh in hours after the conclusion of the fight via Twitter.
My head gasket is gone. Destroyed. I had no injury / injuries going into the fight. I was throwing kicks, planted and jumping, all throughout camp as well as backstage before the fight. This came out of nowhere. I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell.
This is not the first time The Notorious has been injured inside the Octagon. Here is McGregor's injury history:
Date
Injury
Opponent
Time until next fight
Aug. 17, 2013
Torn ACL
Max Holloway
11 months
July 10, 2021
Broken tibia
Dustin Poirier
5 years
July 12, 2026
TBD
Max Holloway
TBD
Will Conor McGregor ever fight again?
At the moment, it does not look likely that McGregor will ever step foot into the Octagon again. The former all-time great appears to have another road to recovery ahead after injuring himself for the second-straight fight.
At this stage of his career, tonight's fight was most likely McGregor's final time strapping into the gloves in the UFC.
UFC 329 provided an exciting night of fights at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, but the event came to an unfortunate end when Conor McGregor suffered a knee injury to prematurely end his highly anticipated comeback to the Octagon.
McGregor rushed Max Holloway seconds into the fight and threw a leaping kick, before coming up limp after an awkward landing. From there, the former two-division champ struggled to keep his footing and the fight was ultimately called off by referee Mike Beltran just over a minute into the bout.
A video of McGregor appearing to lose his footing while taking off his shoes before entering the Octagon sparked the theory, and the UFC answered by sharing their own video of McGregor’s pre-fight warm-up. In that video, McGregor is seens warming up by throwing kicks similar to what he opened up his bout against Holloway with, and showing no signs of having a compromised knee.
Will that be enough to quiet the conspiracies? Probably not, despite video from the actual fight showing McGregor’s knee buckle from an awkward landing. It won’t be until an official diagnosis is confirmed that we will learn more about where everything went wrong.
“My head gasket is gone,” McGregor wrote on X. “Destroyed. I had no injury/injuries going into the fight. I was throwing kicks, planted and jumping, all throughout camp as well as backstage before the fight. This came out of nowhere. I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell.
“I was so sharp and so ready for this fight I cannot believe what has happened. The talk of me being off while walking in to the fight is nonsense. I was calm, ready, and confident. I am in shock what has taken place. The devil is literally staring at me right in front of my face here. I am not engaging. I will be at church tomorrow.”
Jul 11, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Conor McGregor (left) attempts to get up after falling against Max Holloway during UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
As McGregor now prepares to recover from his latest leg injury, we’ll have to wait and see whether this is the last we have seen of the former two-division champion inside of the cage.
Holloway, meanwhile, will now have to decide whether he wants to wait for a potential McGregor trilogy fight in 2027, or whether he will make another run at UFC gold.
UFC President Dana White couldn’t believe that the UFC 329 broadcast didn’t recognize boxing champion Shakur Stevenson.
UFC events are almost always attended by elite athletes from other disciplines. With Conor McGregor’s first fight since 2021 taking place at UFC 329, it wasn’t surprising to see big names in the crowd.
One of those big names was four-weight boxing world champion Shakur Stevenson, but the UFC broadcast didn’t realize that when the camera panned to the boxer, leading to White’s fury.
Dana White was enraged with the UFC’s production team
While Stevenson was shadowboxing for the cameras at UFC 329, the namecard under him read Jalen Williams, the former NBA Champion playing for the OKC Thunder.
White, who recently signed Stevenson to Zuffa Boxing, was irate at the error.
“I just paid Shakur Stevenson a s—load of money, and for some reason we can’t figure this celebrity s— out. They put him up as a f—— OKC NBA player. Are you f—– kidding me? We are the absolute worst to ever do the celebrity thing.”
OKC Thunder star Chet Holmgren was at the event, so it’s likely a technical goof-up by the production team who had Williams’ titlecard ready in case he appeared on camera.
A far worse outcome is that the production team genuinely thought Stevenson was Williams. A production team for the biggest combat sports organization in the world can never make a mistake like that.
Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC
The event itself had some great fights, such as Brandon Royval’s third-round submission win over Lone’er Kavanagh and Paddy Pimblett’s 52-second submission win over Benoit Saint-Denis in the co-main event.
McGregor’s return was ruined with a freak knee injury with his first attempted kick against Max Holloway, as the fight ended via doctor’s stoppage in less than a minute.
While Stevenson might have had to endure the anti-climactic finish to the main event, he probably didn’t expect to be mistaken for an NBA forward at a combat sports event.
While all MMA fans' eyes will be honed in on Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2 at the end of the night, the rest of the UFC 329 card does have some eye-catching names to look out for.
Most notably, England's Paddy "The Baddy" Pimblett returns after losing his first fight in nine cage arrivals. He will look to rebound against fellow lightweight Benoit Saint Denis.
Cory Sandhagen will face off against Mario Bautista, while Brandon Royval vs. Lone'er Kavanagh will precede that. Leading off the main card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will be King Green-Terrance McKinney.
Here's a look at the results from Saturday's card, which features McGregor's return to the cage.
McGregor vs. Holloway has yet to kick off from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card begins at 9 p.m. ET, while McGregor and Holloway will likely take to the cage at around 11:30 p.m. ET.
This section will be updated once McGregor vs. Holloway 2 concludes.
MMA legend Conor McGregor is making his return to the Octagon in UFC 329 on Saturday night against Max Holloway and his impact is already being felt before the event begins.
UFC president and CEO Dana White was a guest on ESPN’s SportsCenter and revealed that UFC 329 has brought in the biggest gate in the company’s history.
The previous record was $22 million, which happened at UFC 306 at The Sphere. For UFC 329, the gate is $25 million.
“We’ll see how this fight plays out on Saturday, but the Conor McGregor effect is huge,” White revealed. “Our biggest gate ever was The Sphere, 22 million. This gate beat it at 25 million, so it’s the biggest gate in UFC history for his return. The city is buzzing.”
When White announced the historic gate at a pre-fight press conference, McGregor made sure to thank fans for their support.
“Thank you to the fans. Thank you to our fans,” McGregor said.
The historic hype for UFC 329 comes as zero surprise.
McGregor is one of the all-time greats and one of the most popular fighters to ever step into the Octagon, so he’s a huge draw in and of himself.
But he also hasn’t fought in the UFC in five years, so that only adds to the anticipation for his rematch with Holloway, who McGregor defeated via unanimous decision in 2013.
This won’t be the last time we see McGregor in the Octagon, as the 37-year-old will fight at least once more after Saturday night.
Conor McGregor’s illustrious UFC career
Jul 10, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Conor McGregor (left) with Joe Rogan during weigh ins for UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
McGregor sports a 22-6 career record, although four of those losses have come in his last seven fights. He has lost each of his last two and three of his last four.
Prior to his run of losses over the last decade, McGregor, who is one of the greatest knockout artists in the sport’s history, was unstoppable, winning a whopping 15 matches in a row before Nate Diaz ended his streak in 2016.
McGregor, who has faced no shortage of controversy outside of the Octagon, has held titles in two different weight classes, including featherweight and lightweight, and he was the first fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two weight classes at the same time.
When you talk about the true legends of the sport, McGregor is right up there with the best of them.
UFC 329 fight card
Jul 10, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Conor McGregor (left) faces off with Max Holloway during weigh ins for UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
While McGregor-Holloway 2 is the most anticipated fight for UFC 329, there are a lot of intriguing bouts on the card.
Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway Paddy Pimblett vs. Benoit Saint Denis Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Brandon Royval King Green vs. Terrance McKinney
Prelims Card
Cesar Almeida vs. Damian Pinas Ryan Gandra vs. Zach Reese Cody Garbrandt vs. Adrian Yanez Gable Steveson vs. Elisha Ellison
Early Prelims Card
Kai Kamaka vs. Luke Riley Robert Whittaker vs. Nikita Krylov Wang Cong vs. Tracy Cortez Farid Basharat vs. John Garza Cody Durden vs. Alessandro Costa
The UFC 329 early prelims and later prelims will begin at 5 p.m. ET and 7 p.m. ET, respectively, and the main card starts at 9 p.m. ET (fight card subject to change).
Conor McGregor took his success as an MMA fighter beyond the UFC, reaching the mainstream in a way that athletes like him rarely reach.
The Irishman is perhaps the most famous MMA fighter in the world, making both his name and face very marketable for both the UFC and brands. As a result, McGregor has been able to build up his net worth beyond by simply being a dominant fighter.
As McGregor moves on to the next phase of his life, he will use the fame that he received as a successful fighter to continue to build a career in other areas. Here's a look at how much McGregor is worth so far.
According to CelebrityNetWorth.com, McGregor is worth around $200 million for his career as an MMA fighter. The MMA fighter has been one of the biggest names in the sport for over a decade, and he has used that status to collect big checks in either fights in the octagon or endorsements outside of the sport.
McGregor is the richest MMA fighter in the world, per CelebrityNetWorth, and he clears the second-ranked member of the list by $150 million. Most of the top UFC fighters are worth around $10-25 million for their careers, but McGregor has exploded past them in the mainstream
McGregor also founded the Irish whiskey distiller Proper No. Twelve in 2018, but he sold his majority stake in the business for $150 million in 2021, according to Forbes.
McGregor began his MMA career in 2008 at 19 years-old and slowly worked his way to becoming one of the most recognizable fighters in the world. As the Irishman got better and won more fights, he earned more money, with his winnings inching further away from the $1 million mark.
In the mid-2010s, McGregor earned between $3 million and $7 million for much of his fights, which built up his career earnings. Then, in 2017, McGregor boxed Floyd Mayweather Jr. and earned a reported $30 million despite losing, by far the biggest number he earned in a fight to that point.
From there, McGregor consistently earned tens of millions of dollars for his fights, win or lose. He racked up $50 million to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018, then another reported $33 million to fight Dustin Poirier in 2021.
McGregor's career earnings so far outweigh his MMA counterparts that he is in the area of highly-paid athletes in other industries like boxing,
Conor McGregor endorsements
McGregor has had many endorsement deals in his career that matched his path to success as an MMA fighter, as he has starred in several commercials for companies like Beats By Dre and Budweiser.
In 2018, McGregor signed endorsement deals with Monster Energy and Reebok, with the Monster Energy deal specifically worth $5 million.
Of course, McGregor had deals with a few of his own alcohol companies when he was still an investor in them.
Recently, ahead of his second fight with Max Holloway, McGregor agreed to a new endorsement deal with Polymarket.
Many UFC fans have been yearning to see Conor McGregor return to the octagon, and that audience will finally get its wish on Saturday. With that could come McGregor's "billionaire strut."
That extravagant walk made its debut almost 10 years ago at UFC 205 and has since become a McGregor staple. The Irishman uses the walk to display his confidence, holding his shoulders back like a billionaire.
It remains to be seen whether fans will get to see the billionaire strut. If they do, McGregor's fanbase will reminisce about when their favorite fighter sat atop the UFC ladder.
Here's the rundown on McGregor's famous strut, which may or may not make an appearance during his return.
McGregor's staple cagewalk move is called the "billionaire strut." The participant typically walks in a rather pompous manner with their shoulders pushed way back and their chest sticking up, with their arms moving forward and back.
McGregor reportedly first showed the world his billionaire strut on November 12, 2016, at UFC 205. When the fighter was in his prime, the walk was an inside-the-cage tradition. It remains to be seen whether or not McGregor will indulge in his past glory with a 2026 version of the billionaire strut.
The billionaire strut is the nickname for McGregor's walking style, which he partook in before his MMA fights. The Irish fighter walked extravagantly around the octagon with his arms flailing forward and back while his chest protruded upward.
Here is a quick look at McGregor emulating his famous strut ahead of his comeback fight against Max Holloway:
McGregor reportedly first performed the billionaire strut ahead of his UFC 205 bout on November 12, 2016, in his lightweight title fight win against Eddie Alvarez, according to Sportskeeda. Here is a look at McGregor's first-ever billionaire strut:
In a 2017 interview with Fight Hub TV, McGregor was asked about what or who was the inspiration behind the billionaire strut. According to the fighter, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon is to thank.
"I perfected it. Vince is a legend. I love Vince," McGregor said. "Vince McMahon is a mad b**tard, he's a mad man."
The first, and arguably most important, step to performing a proper billionaire strut involves the participant leaning all the way back. When McGregor performs the strut, his chest is higher than his back.
Once this posture is established, the strutter must alternate flinging their arms in front of them. The trick is to find the perfect medium; swinging one's arms either too hard or too softly can determine how comparable someone's billionaire strut is to McGregor's.
In case those directions were too confusing, here is McGregor giving a how-to on his trademark walk:
Conor McGregor teaches Nina Drama how to do the Billi Strut
McGregor's billionaire strut has previously gone viral, as the MMA fighter has been relevant for quite some time. His walk style can even be seen in group chats or comments sections that allow GIFs.
Here is a GIF of McGregor's trademark cage tradition:
The billionaire strut is of the most iconic celebrations in sports history.
From football to basketball, boxing, and beyond, the biggest athletes in the world have all recreated the strut. More than a celebration, it became a symbol… pic.twitter.com/iowvYd99KP
Conor McGregor had long been a worldwide sensation when he boxed Floyd Mayweather in a much-anticipated crossover event in 2017. Since that point, McGregor's reputation has spiraled.
The MMA fighter has struggled to stay out of trouble, battling serious legal issues and sexual assault allegations that kept him in the news for anything but his work in the octagon.
As McGregor makes his return, he's hoping his personal life is finally back on track.
Here's a complete look at McGregor's timeline of trouble since the 2017 Mayweather fight.
Days after Khabib Nurmagomedov slapped McGregor's training partner Artem Lobov, McGregor targeted Nurmagomedov in a bizarre incident at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
McGregor and more than a dozen other men stormed the loading dock at the venue and attacked a bus carrying Nurmagomedov and other UFC fighters. At one point, McGregor threw a steel dolly at the window of the bus, shattering it and injuring multiple people.
"No one knew what was going on. Everyone was, 'What the heck is this? What are we under attack from?'" UFC fighter Al Iaquinta told ESPN. "And then we saw Conor running, and we were like, 'Oh, all right."
McGregor was charged with three counts of misdemeanor assault and one count of criminal mischief, though a plea deal reduced the case to a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.
"The most disgusting thing that has ever happened in the history of the company."
2018: McGregor suspended for Nurmagomedov brawl
After a separate skirmish involving Nurmagomedov after their fight on Oct. 6, 2018, McGregor received a six-month suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission and a $50,000 fine.
Nurmagomedov scaled the cage and targeted one of McGregor's training partners, which sparked a large-scale brawl involving McGregor and brought the rivalry between the two fighters to new heights.
2019: McGregor arrested for smashing fan's phone
McGregor was arrested and charged with robbery and criminal mischief for smashing a fan's phone in Miami in 2019. Video showed the fan was one of several people trying to take a photo or video of McGregor when the MMA fighter grabbed the phone and stomped on it.
Prosecutors have released video of Conor McGregor smashing a fan’s phone in Miami.pic.twitter.com/hqb5QO8ggm
The man whose phone was smashed dropped the charges against McGregor two months later.
2019: McGregor arrested for punching man in Dublin
In August 2019, McGregor was charged for punching a man in a Dublin pub. McGregor would plead guilty to assault and received only a fine for the incident.
McGregor later purchased the pub in which he punched the man.
2020: McGregor arrested on suspicion of sexual assault
McGregor was arrested in France on the island of Corsica on suspicion of sexual assault and indecent exposure in September of 2020, but he was released without any charges two days later.
2021: Altercation with Machine Gun Kelly
An interaction between McGregor and rapper Machine Gun Kelly on the MTV Video Music Awards red carpet nearly turned ugly in 2021, as McGregor lunged at the rapper and appeared to throw a drink in his direction.
Conor Mcgregor and Machine Gun Kelly got into an altercation on the red carpet at the MTV #VMAs 👀😳 pic.twitter.com/3dFDxOjbpg
After the skirmish, McGregor denied that he tried to fight Machine Gun Kelly and denied knowing him at all.
"Nothing happened with me," McGregor said. "I only fight real fighters. People that actually fight. I certainly don't fight little Vanilla Ice white rappers. I don't even know the guy, don't know anything about him except that he's with Megan Fox."
2022: McGregor arrested for driving offenses
McGregor was arrested and charged with six driving offenses in Ireland in early 2022, resulting in his Bentley being temporarily seized. The case was resolved in 2024, when McGregor received a five-month suspended jail sentence and a two-year driving ban. Because McGregor has stayed out of trouble in Ireland since the sentence, he has not had to serve jail time.
2023: Woman claims assault on yacht
A woman claimed in early 2023 that she was physically assaulted and threatened by McGregor on a yacht in Ibiza, Spain, several months earlier. The allegations included a claim that the woman broke her arm while jumping off the yacht to get away from McGregor.
One month later, however, the woman dropped a civil suit against McGregor.
2023: McGregor injures Miami Heat mascot
In a bizarre incident, McGregor participated in a skit with Miami Heat mascot "Burnie" during an NBA Finals game but went beyond the script by delivering a real punch and injuring the man in the costume. The man was hospitalized but avoided serious injury.
After the incident, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra laughed it off. "We won’t reveal who that is but he’s tough," Spoelstra said of the man in the Burnie costume. "Take a punch and get back up. Yeah, he’s not going to miss any time."
2023: McGregor accused of sexual assault at Heat game
A woman claimed McGregor "aggressively kissed her" in a bathroom at the same NBA Finals game between the Heat and Nuggets. McGregor denied the claims, but the woman ultimately filed a lawsuit against the MMA fighter. The suit was dropped in late 2025.
2024: McGregor found liable for 2018 sexual assault
McGregor was found liable by an Irish court for a 2018 sexual assault in a hotel room. While McGregor continued to deny the allegation and was not criminally charged, he was ordered to pay the woman $257,000.
Drake strongly believes that Conor McGregor will win his first professional MMA fight in almost five years, as the rap icon placed a massive $1 million bet on the Irishman to beat Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 329.
“THE MAC IS BACK?!?!?? The proper twelve drinking, tailored suit wearing, Lambo Yacht riding man with the Dubai tan that once had both belts in both hands… Say less @stake,” Drake posted on Instagram.
Based on his screenshot, Drake will earn a $1.85 million profit if McGregor wins tomorrow. The five-time Grammy Award winner has made a habit of making seven-figure bets on high-profile sporting events such as the NBA Finals, World Cup, and the Super Bowl.
However, most of his bets have lost, which has given life to the infamous “Drake Curse.” McGregor’s last win in the Octagon was on January 18, 2020, against Donald Cerrone at UFC 246. On the other hand, Holloway’s last victory was against Dustin Poirier at UFC 318 last July 20, 2025.
Sep 21, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; MMA fighter Conor McGregor tosses the ball after throwing out a ceremonial first pitch before the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Minnesota Twins at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports
Conor McGregor downplays fitness concerns ahead of UFC 329 return
The last time we saw Conor McGregor in the Octagon was when he broke his leg during UFC 264 in the final seconds of round one, losing to Dustin Poirier in 2021. The injury was reminiscent of the leg break suffered by Anderson Silva, who hasn’t been the same fighter since.
However, “The Notorious” claims that the leg break turned out to be a blessing in disguise for him, so much so that he feels it has actually extended his professional MMA career.
“I am fully, fully healed. There is a titanium rod down the knee into the ankle, and it is solid. I’m Terminator now, that is my mindset, McGregor said in a Paramount+ interview.
“I always say an injury is not just a process of recovery, it is a process of discovery. You uncover a lot about yourself – about your frame, your body, your movements, your mechanics,” he added. “In actuality, everything happens for a reason. This allowed me to carry on with my career, and it will bring longevity to my career.”
The “Notorious” one is a multi-division champion who got mainstream attention by boxing Floyd Mayweather. The Irish fighter hasn’t fought since 2021, as he was recovering from a broken tibia.
Holloway (27-9) is the more active of the two. The hard-hitting Hawaiian is a former UFC featherweight champion and at one point held the BMF Title. “Blessed” is 2-2 in his last four fights.
Former title contenders compete on the UFC 329 main card and undercard, while rising stars look to advance in the rankings.
UFC 329 undercard
Here's a breakdown of all the action on the UFC 329 card.
Paddy Pimblett vs. Benoit Saint-Denis
Division/Weight: Lightweight
Pimblett record: 23-4
Saint-Denis record: 17-3, 1 NC
Belts at stake: N/A
The co-feature will see Paddy Pimblett vs. Benoit Saint-Denis.
Pimblett (23-4) is a former Cage Warriors featherweight champion. "The Baddy” had a nine-fight win streak snapped against Justin Gaethje for the interim UFC lightweight title. The English fighter from Liverpool is ranked ninth at lightweight.
Saint-Denis (17-3, 1 NC) was a member of France's 1st Marine Infantry Paratroopers Regiment before his MMA career. He’s on a four-fight win streak, all ending in a finish. BSD has won two straight fights via knockout.
Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista
Division/Weight: Bantamweight
Sandhagen record: 18-6
Bautista record: 17-3
Belts at stake: N/A
Cory Sandhagen takes on Mario Bautista.
Sandhagen (18-6) is 2-2 in his last four fights. He lost against Merab Dvalishvili in October for the UFC bantamweight title. “The Sandman” is ranked fourth at bantamweight.
Ranked fifth, Bautista (17-3) had an eight-fight win streak snapped in October against Umar Nurmagomedov. He recovered in February with a win against Vinicius Oliveira, his seventh submission victory.
Brandon Royval vs. Lone'er Kavanagh
Division/Weight: Flyweight
Royval record: 17-9
Kavanagh record: 10-1
Belts at stake: N/A
Brandon Royval faces Lone'er Kavanagh.
Royval (17-9) is a former LFA champion who failed to capture the UFC flyweight title in 2023. He's 2-2 in his last four fights and on a two-fight losing streak. "Raw Dawg" has nine wins via submission.
Kavanagh (10-1) impressed on Dana White's Contender Series. The English fighter beat former champion Brandon Moreno back in February and is 2-1 in his last three fights.
King Green and Terrance McKinney face off in lightweight action.
A pro since 2008, King Green (35-17-1, 1 NC) is on a three-fight win streak. A record-breaking striker in the lightweight division, the 39-year-old looks to win four straight for the first time since 2012.
Owner of the fastest finish in lightweight history, McKinney (18-8) has nine wins via knockout and nine via submission. The All-American wrestler is 3-1 in his last four fights.
Robert Whittaker vs. Nikita Krylov
Division/Weight: Light Heavyweight
Whittaker record: 26-9
Krylov record: 31-11
Belts at stake: N/A
Further down the card, Robert Whittaker takes on Nikita Krylov.
A former UFC middleweight champion, Whittaker (26-9) makes his light heavyweight debut at UFC 329. The Aussie, born in New Zealand, is on a two-fight losing streak for the first time in over thirteen years.
Krylov (31-11) is 2-2 in his last four fights and 1-2 since returning in 2025 after a year away from action. "The Miner" has thirteen wins via knockout and sixteen via submission.
Gable Steveson makes his UFC debut against Elisha Ellison.
One of the most accomplished wrestlers of all time, the 2020 Olympic gold medalist attempted pro wrestling, football, and boxing before joining MMA. Steveson (3-0) looks to go 2-0 in 2026 in what is his first time in the octagon.
Ellison (5-2) had a three-fight win streak snapped in his UFC debut in September. "Snack Panther" has four wins via knockout.
Cody Garbrandt vs. Adrian Yanez
Division/Weight: Bantamweight
Garbrandt record: 15-7
Yanez record: 17-6-1
Belts at stake: N/A
Cody Garbrandt takes on Adrian Yanez.
A former UFC bantamweight champion, Garbrandt (15-7) ended a two-fight losing streak in March for his first win since 2023. "No Love" has eleven wins via knockout and won all All-State honors in football.
Yanez (17-6-1) is 1-1-1 in his last three fights and looks for his first win since 2024. The 32-year-old has eleven wins via knockout.
Luke Riley vs. Kai Kamaka III
Division/Weight: Middleweight
Riley record: 13-0
Kamaka record: 18-7-1
Belts at stake: N/A
Luke Riley faces off against Kai Kamaka III.
From Liverpool, Riley (13-0) is 2-0 in the UFC after standing out with Cage Warriors. The 27-year-old has nine wins via knockout.
Kamaka (18-7-1) is on a two-fight win streak and looks to go 2-0 in his second run in the octagon after competing for Bellator and the PFL.
Tracy Cortez vs. Wang Cong
Division/Weight: Flyweight
Cortez record: 12-3
Cong record: 9-1
Belts at stake: N/A
Tracy Cortez faces Wang Cong.
Competing on Dana White's Contender Series, Cortez (12-3) is 2-2 in her last four fights, taking on former champions and current contenders. She’s ranked eighth at flyweight.
An accomplished kickboxer, Wang (9-1) is a multi-time gold medalist in Sanda. Earning a UFC contract on Season 3 of Road to UFC, Wang, ranked tenth, has won three straight fights.
Damian Pinas vs. Cesar Almeida
Division/Weight: Middleweight
Pinas record: 9-1
Almeida record: 7-2
Belts at stake: N/A
Damian Pinas takes on Cesar Almeida.
Pinas (9-1) is 2-0 in the UFC and on a five-fight win streak. "The Baby Yaga," from Aruba, has eight wins via knockout.
You can watch UFC 329 live on Paramount+, with both the prelims and main card available to stream in one place. The best part: UFC Freedom 250 does not require a pay-per-view purchase — you just need an active Paramount+ subscription.
Paramount+ plans
Paramount+ Essential (ad-supported): $8.99/month or $89.99/year
Paramount+ Premium (ad-free): $13.99/month or $139.99/year
Beyond UFC, Paramount+ includes a wide mix of live sports and programming, plus thousands of on-demand movies and shows, so you can stream events and entertainment on your phone, TV, or laptop.
For the first time in five years, Conor McGregor will fight in a UFC match as he takes on Max Holloway for the second time in his career.
McGregor and Holloway first fought in 2013, when McGregor defeated Holloway by unanimous decision. Since then, McGregor's star status exploded in the mainstream, while Holloway became one of UFC's top fighters for more than a decade in action.
McGregor is now 37 years-old and hasn't been in a fight since he lost to Dustin Poirier in 2021, but his name is still lucrative for the UFC as an entity. Holloway, meanwhile, has lost two of his last three fights and hopes to get back to his winning ways against McGregor.
With a lot of eyes on this match, both fighters should be earning a hefty sum to step into the octagon. Here's a look at how much each fighter is expected to earn for this fight.
Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2 purses, salaries
The exact purse and salary numbers for the second fight between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway are unclear, but the numbers are enough for McGregor to accept his first fight in five years. However, Ariel Helwani reports that McGregor will earn a base salary of at least $15 million before taking bonuses or promotional funds into account.
Holloway, meanwhile, will likely earn significantly less than that, somewhere closer to $3 million, which is more in line with his usual fight salary.
According to CelebrityNetWorth.com, McGregor is worth an estimated $200 million for his career as an MMA fighter. Much of that number comes from high-profile fights against names like Floyd Mayweather Jr., Dustin Poirier and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
In recent years, as he's stepped away from MMA, McGregor has earned money in other industries. The Irishman founded Irish whiskey distiller Proper No. Twelve in 2018, but he sold his majority stake in the business for $150 million in 2021.
After fighting on a frequent basis between 2008 and 2016, McGregor has only been a part of four MMA fights since 2016. However, with each fight came with bigger paydays as his name and popularity grew with his success.
During his MMA fights, McGregor had a steady increase in his earnings, beginning around $3 million but building up to a reported $7 million for a fight vs. Eddie Alvarez in 2016. McGregor's payout significantly increased in a boxing match against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2017, when ESPN reported he made $30 million for the loss. That fight, though, helped him earn more beyond the initial payout due to promotion, pay-per-view dollars and other marketing expenses.
When McGregor fought Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018, he reportedly earned around $50 million before he even stepped into the octagon. McGregor's most recent fight was against Dustin Poirier in 2021, where Forbes estimates the fighter earned around $33 million.
Max Holloway's MMA career hasn't been quite as fruitful as McGregor's, as he has a net worth of $5 million per CelebrityNetWorth.com. The vast majority of his net worth comes from his career as an MMA fighter since he is not as mainstream as McGregor.
Max Holloway career earnings
In 2024, Front Office Sports named Holloway as the highest-earning featherweight fighter with an estimated $9.7 million earned over 33 total fights. Since then, Holloway has been in three more fights to increase his career earnings to over a reported $12.5 million.
Most recently, Holloway fought in UFC 326 in March, when he reportedly earned between $2 million and $4 million, including bonuses and sponsorships. He lost that match to Charles Oliveira, though, so he didn't secure the winner's bonus.
Conor McGregor’s latest comments have once again reignited one of MMA’s biggest debates.
Ahead of his long-awaited return at UFC 329: McGregor vs. Holloway 2, the former two-division champ boldly declared himself the greatest fighter in the sport’s history while also taking aim at Jon Jones’ standing in the all-time great conversation.
McGregor argued that his accomplishments inside the Octagon, combined with his knockout record and impact on mixed martial arts, give him the edge over every other fighter.
Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
His remarks quickly drew attention across the MMA world, with Jones eventually responding to the Irishman’s latest claims.
Jon Jones responds after Conor McGregor’s latest GOAT remarks
Speaking about his legacy, McGregor questioned why Jones is still considered the benchmark in many GOAT discussions.
‘The Notorious’ pointed to his own finishing ability, noting that he has recorded nineteen knockout victories compared to Jones’ eight before asking, “Where is he now?” as he compared their current situations.
Jon Jones, however, did not let the comments go unanswered. The reigning heavyweight champion fired back on social media, defending his résumé and reminding fans that title defenses and longevity remain major factors in any discussion about the greatest fighter in MMA history.
The latest exchange adds another chapter to a rivalry that has largely played out through interviews and social media rather than inside the Octagon.
Where does Conor McGregor actually rank among MMA’s greatest fighters?
McGregor’s place in MMA history remains one of the sport’s most polarizing topics. His résumé includes becoming the UFC’s first simultaneous two-division champion, while his popularity helped transform the promotion into a global phenomenon.
Only a few fighters have had a greater commercial and cultural impact on the sport.
At the same time, many fans still place fighters such as Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva and Demetrious Johnson above McGregor based on sustained championship success, title defenses and longevity.
McGregor’s inactivity over the past 5 years doesn’t help his case either. Whether fans agree with his latest GOAT claim or not, McGregor continues to garner attention whenever he speaks.
With UFC 329 marking his return to the octagon, the debate surrounding his place in MMA history has once again taken center stage.
Login
