Makhachev Admits He Felt Bad Watching McGregor's Knee Give Out

Conor McGregor's long-awaited return lasted all of 69 seconds — and even Islam Makhachev, whose camp shares plenty of bad blood with the Irishman, couldn't take any joy in how it ended. Speaking to Complex Sports, the reigning welterweight champion said he felt bad watching McGregor open the UFC 329 bout with a jumping roundhouse kick, land awkwardly, and blow out his knee. The injury tore his ACL and forced the stoppage before Max Holloway ever had a chance to do damage.

It was McGregor's first walk to the Octagon in five years, following the broken leg that ended his last fight, and it collapsed almost immediately. Makhachev didn't hide that he expected Holloway to win — he just didn't want it to look like this. He said he'd been curious to see how McGregor fought after so long away, and that watching a comeback end on a freak self-inflicted injury left a sour taste.

The math on McGregor's career is getting harder to ignore. He's now 22-7 (19 KO) and hasn't had his hand raised in the UFC since 2020. That's a long time to stay a global draw on reputation alone, and the ACL tear only stretches the gap wider.

The Road Back Runs Through 2027

After surgery to repair the knee, McGregor has said he's aiming for International Fight Week 2027 to fight again. He's also made clear that his next bout is the last on his current UFC deal — language that reads like a man eyeing free agency and a payday somewhere outside the promotion. Whether that materializes is another matter entirely, but the intent is on the record.

The history here runs deep. McGregor's beef with Makhachev's team traces back to 2018 and one of the ugliest fight buildups the sport has produced, ahead of his loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov — the night Nurmagomedov climbed the cage to go after McGregor's corner. That rivalry has never really cooled, which makes Makhachev's sympathy all the more notable.

What's Next for the Champ

Makhachev, meanwhile, isn't looking back. He's deep in preparation for his first welterweight title defense, headlining UFC 330 in Philadelphia against another Irishman in Ian Machado Garry. It's a clean pivot from the McGregor circus to the actual business of running a division — and right now, that's a contrast that flatters the champion.