Conor McGregor’s return to the octagon at UFC 329 lasted just 69 seconds before a major knee injury brought his fight against Max Holloway to a disappointing end. Yet, in the wake of this latest setback, UFC president Dana White absolutely heaped praise on the controversial star, labeling him a “unicorn” and talking him up for his impact on the promotion.
The ‘Unicorn’ That Got Hurt
White, appearing on The Pivot podcast, made it clear there’s no replicating what McGregor has done for the sport. “There’s never gonna be another Conor McGregor. In the time, in the place, in the way that he came into the sport,” White said, emphasizing that while new superstars will emerge, none will match McGregor’s unique rise. It’s a huge statement, especially after a fight that saw McGregor immediately suffer a major knee injury. He revealed just days later on Sunday that he tore his ACL and meniscus. The official stopped the bout almost as soon as it started, underscoring the severity of the damage.
Still the King of the Numbers Game
Even with the quick and brutal end to UFC 329, McGregor’s status as the biggest drawing card in UFC history remains untouched. This fight, his first since 2021, pulled in a massive 15.9 million viewers on Paramount Plus across the United States and Latin America. We’re talking about a guy who main-evented the top seven traditional pay-per-view events ever by buyrate. The numbers don’t lie, he brings the eyeballs, injury or no injury. He’s got one fight left on his current UFC contract and is already targeting a return to competition next summer.
Talk about a rollercoaster. From breaking his tibia and fibula against Dustin Poirier in July 2021 to this torn ACL and meniscus against Holloway, the dude keeps getting sidelined with brutal injuries. But with that one fight left on his deal and a summer 2027 target, you know everyone will be watching to see if the “unicorn” can actually make another comeback.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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