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Max Holloway reveals exactly what Conor McGregor told him before UFC fight was stopped

McGregor and Holloway clashed at UFC 329 on Saturday night in Las Vegas, but their contest ended after just 69 seconds after the Irishman suffered a brutal injury

[Max Holloway and Conor McGregor after their fight on Saturday night]

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Max Holloway and Conor McGregor after their fight on Saturday night(Image: 2026 Jeff Bottari)

Max Holloway admits Conor McGregor was willing to fight before he pleaded with the referee to wave off the fight for the sake of the Irishman's children.

The two stars met in the main event at UFC 329 in Las Vegas on Saturday night, but their clash was waved off after just 69 seconds. From the opening bell, McGregor immediately threw a spinning kick and appeared to land rather awkwardly on his right leg, before falling to the canvas.

McGregor was just about able to get up before taking another tumbled. Both McGregor and Holloway seemed to exchange some words before the fight was called off. The 37-year-old seemingly damaged his right knee and was quick to exit the cage to seek medical attention.

Sitting cageside was McGregor's wife Dee Devlin and their four children, Conor Jr, Rian, Mack and Croia. And the former featherweight champion claimed he wanted the fight stopped for the sake of McGregor's family.

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I just hope hes good, I know Conors been battling some stuff. It looked like he really been changing, he found God," he said. He had his kids in there, so during the fight, you could obviously tell his demeanour changed and I was shout out to the ref I was trying to tell the ref sooner.

I was like, This guys kids is front row, I dont want to see him take unnecessary damage, try to stop the fight. But this is how crazy Conor is. The first time hes on the ground, Im punching him, hes like, Fight, fight. I was like, OK. Thats why I backed up. I said, Stand up then. Lets fight. And then he fell back down and then the fight was called.

['I was at Conor McGregor fight and one thing left me baffled']

OPINION

After the Sin City showdown, fans immediately suggested McGregor was carrying an injury going into the fight, but the Irishman insisted he was fit - and promised he would be back. I was so sharp and so ready for this fight I cannot believe what has happened," he wrote on social media. "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. I will overcome this. I will not be deterred. I will return."

Amid calls to retire, should McGregor return, Holloway is willing to fight him for a third time. "After turning around so fast for this fight in March, it's been fast," he said. "But I'd love to see this Conor 170lb domain that he was talking about. This different world he was talking about. I want to see what his injury is first, but I then want to come back again in 2027.

"I will take some time to have a break to see my family, and then you guys will see Blessed return in 2027."

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