07/11/26 11:32:00
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07/11 23:30 CDT Conor McGregor suffers early knee injury in return, loses to
Max Holloway at UFC 329
Conor McGregor suffers early knee injury in return, loses to Max Holloway at
UFC 329
By W.G. RAMIREZ
Associated Press
LAS VEGAS (AP) --- Conor McGregor's return against Max Holloway at UFC 329
ended at just 1:09 of the first round Saturday night because of a knee injury.
Fighting for the first time in more than five years, McGregor flew across the
ring with a flying left roundhouse kick when the match started and landed
awkwardly on his right knee.
After attempting to kick and strike Holloway (28-9-0) two more times, it was
clear McGregor (22-7-0) couldn't finish the scheduled five-round welterweight
bout.
"Five years off in this sport is rough," UFC President Dana White said. "We're
assuming a blown ACL. That's what I assumed when I saw it, and that's what the
doctors think, too."
Holloway closed a -300 favorite at Bet MGM Sportsbook, which means a bettor
would have to lay $300 to win $100. McGregor was a +240 underdog, which means a
bettor would win $240 with a $100 wager on the Irishman.
McGregor, who strolled to the ring to the sounds of Notorious Biggie Smalls'
"Hypnotize" and the roar of the sold-out crowd, last fought exactly five years
and a day before Saturday night.
To the delight of a frenzied audience just hours after his home country of
England won its quarterfinal match over Norway in the World Cup, Liverpool's
Paddy Pimblett (24-4-0) made quick work of Benoit Saint Denis (17-4-0) with a
first-round TKO. Pimblett, who closed a +120 underdog, blocked a roundkick,
shot in and quickly applied a front headlock to put Saint Denis to sleep for
the win in 52 seconds.
In a bantamweight battle, Mario Bautista (18-3-0) defeated Cory Sandhagen
(18-7-0) by unanimous decision, after taking advantage of a first-round leg
kick and applying pressure in each round after. A flurry of punches in the
third round secured the decision.
In a scheduled three-round flyweight bout, Brandon Royval (18-9-0) applied a
rear-naked choke on Lone'er Kavanagh (10-2-0) to win by submission at the 3:40
mark of the final round.
In an absolute shocker to start the main card, a bloodied King Green (36-17-0)
overcame a beating for nearly the entire first round before landing a right
hand to the jaw of Terrance McKinney (18-9-0) with roughly 20 seconds left, and
then finished him off for a TKO at the 4:59 mark.
___
AP MMA: https://apnews.com/hub/mixed-martial-arts
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