UFC 329 was supposed to be the grand celebration of Conor McGregor’s long-awaited return to the Octagon. Instead, the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas was left in stunned silence just 69 seconds into the main event. A freak knee injury suffered by “The Notorious” during an opening-seconds jumping kick handed Max Holloway a first-round TKO victory and threw the future of the welterweight and lightweight landscapes into absolute chaos.
While the main event ended in heartbreak and anticlimax, the rest of the card delivered fireworks—most notably from Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett, who silenced his critics with a historic 52-second submission over Benoît Saint Denis.
With the dust settled on one of the most unpredictable nights in recent MMA history, the UFC matchmaking team faces massive questions. What are the best paths forward for the night’s three biggest stars?
Table of Contents
1. Conor McGregor: The Cruel Reality of Time and Rehabilitation
For Conor McGregor, UFC 329 was supposed to be the redemption arc following a grueling five-year absence. Instead, his knee buckling under the weight of an opening-round strike feels like a tragic echo of his 2021 leg break against Dustin Poirier. Turning 38 years old this month, McGregor faces a suspected ACL tear that will inevitably shelf him for the remainder of 2026 and well into 2027.
Best Option: Prioritize Long-Term Health or Elegant Retirement
The fight game is unforgiving, and a second catastrophic joint/bone injury in his late 30s makes a return to elite championship form almost mathematically impossible. McGregor has nothing left to prove financially or historically.
- The Trilogy Illusion: While Holloway gracefully mentioned inside the Octagon that a trilogy fight “will happen” once the series is leveled at 1-1, waiting out a 9-to-12-month rehab loop for a 39-year-old Conor is a tough sell for fans wanting a competitive athletic contest.
- The Verdict: If McGregor does choose to grind through another grueling rehab process, his return fight should exclusively be a legacy “fun” fight—perhaps the long-delayed showdown with Michael Chandler or a BMF-style standalone spectacle—rather than chasing rankings. However, hanging up the gloves as the sport’s ultimate pioneer is looking more like the wisest option.
2. Max Holloway: The BMF King Re-Enters the Lightweight Title Picture
Max Holloway didn’t want to win this way, but a victory is a victory. By technically evening the score with McGregor thirteen years after their first featherweight meeting, “Blessed” continues his incredible career renaissance. More importantly, he emerged from UFC 329 completely unscathed physically.
Max Holloway's Recent Resume:
[UFC 300] Def. Justin Gaethje (KO - Last Second BMF Classic)
[UFC 308] Defeated by Ilia Topuria (Featherweight Title Attempt)
[UFC 329] Def. Conor McGregor (TKO - Injury, 1:09 Round 1)
Best Option: Return to Lightweight for a Top 5 Clash
While this fight took place at welterweight, Holloway’s true frame and current aspirations belong between 145 and 155 pounds. With Ilia Topuria holding down the featherweight fort, Holloway’s most exciting trajectory lies in the stacked lightweight division.
- The Ideal Matchup: A high-octane lightweight contender bout against Mauricio Ruffy or a rematch with Charles Oliveira.
- The Verdict: Holloway has proven he is a mandatory attraction. The UFC should slot him into a massive lightweight co-main event later this year against a surging top-contender to truly determine the next challenger for the 155-pound throne.
3. Paddy Pimblett: From Question Mark to Top 5 Contender
If there was a true athletic winner at UFC 329, it was Paddy Pimblett. Entering the night as a major question mark following his brutal loss to Justin Gaethje earlier in the year, “The Baddy” answered every single detractor.
Benoît Saint Denis rushed Pimblett immediately, but the Liverpool native showed world-class composure, locking up a front headlock and smoothly transitioning into a vicious D’Arce choke. Putting the French “God of War” to sleep in just 52 seconds is officially a submission-of-the-year contender and vault-locks Pimblett into elite lightweight status.
Conor McGregor BREAKS His Leg AGAIN vs Max Holloway at UFC 329!
Best Option: A Title Eliminator Against Arman Tsarukyan
Pimblett didn’t just win; he preserved his body. Taking zero damage means the UFC can fast-track him into the absolute upper echelon of the division while his hype train is back at maximum velocity.
- The Matchup: A date with Arman Tsarukyan or the loser of the next lightweight title bout.
- The Verdict: Paddy has transcended the “gimmick” phase of his career. He belongs at the very top. Booking Pimblett against a wrestling powerhouse like Tsarukyan will provide the ultimate litmus test to see if the Scouse star can actually wear UFC gold.
UFC 329 proved once again that MMA is the most unpredictable theater in the world. While one legendary chapter might be drawing to a close for Conor McGregor, the books are wide open for Holloway and Pimblett to dictate the future of the sport.
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