TLDR
- Max Holloway defended his billionaire strut celebration after defeating Conor McGregor at UFC 329
- Holloway said McGregor’s knee injury resulted from a failed opening kick that he successfully avoided
- The fight ended in just over one minute when McGregor could no longer defend himself after repeated falls
- McGregor admitted he mistimed the kick due to being overly eager after five years away from MMA
- WNBA star Sophie Cunningham appeared ringside as a ring girl for the UFC 329 co-main event
Sources: timesofindia.indiatimes.com | sports.yahoo.com
Max Holloway has defended his victory celebration at UFC 329 after defeating Conor McGregor in just over one minute. The former featherweight champion performed McGregor’s famous billionaire strut inside the Octagon, which drew criticism from some fans who felt the celebration was inappropriate given the injury-related ending.
During a recent live stream, Holloway responded to questions about why he celebrated so enthusiastically after the fight ended due to McGregor’s knee injury. He explained that the injury occurred as a direct result of the action inside the cage, not from a freak accident.
Holloway said he successfully avoided McGregor’s opening attack, which caused the Irish fighter to land awkwardly and damage his knee. After McGregor lost his balance, Holloway followed up with ground strikes before referee Mike Beltran stopped the contest.
How the Fight Ended in Seconds
The fight came to a quick conclusion at UFC 329 when McGregor charged forward immediately after the opening bell. The Irish star attempted a leaping roundhouse kick aimed at Holloway just seconds into the rematch.
The strike failed to land cleanly, and McGregor appeared to injure his knee as he came back down to the canvas. From that moment, the former two-division champion struggled to maintain his balance.
Max Holloway reacts to criticism for celebrating UFC 329 win over Conor McGregor: ‘I ground-and-pounded him’ https://t.co/mU1DYCElPx pic.twitter.com/jR8RsJRib8
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) July 18, 2026
McGregor repeatedly slipped while trying to move around the Octagon, allowing Holloway to take control of the situation. After another fall, Holloway moved in with punches on the ground as Beltran watched closely.
The referee determined McGregor could no longer defend himself and stopped the fight. The entire sequence took just over one minute to unfold.
McGregor Addresses His Opening Strategy
McGregor recently responded to criticism about his decision to throw such an aggressive attack at the start of the fight. Reacting to a fan on social media, he admitted that he mistimed the kick by a small margin.
However, McGregor disagreed with suggestions that the technique itself was a bad choice. He explained that spending five years away from MMA made him overly eager to make an immediate impact.
McGregor added that he has learned from the mistake and believes the timing can be corrected. The Irish fighter remains confident that he is getting closer to performing at his best again.
Despite the frustrating defeat, McGregor has made it clear that he has no plans to retire. On his birthday, the former champion assured supporters that he remains determined to return to competition once he has recovered.
The fight marked McGregor’s return to the UFC after five years away from mixed martial arts competition. Fans had hoped for a memorable comeback, but the injury brought an anticlimactic end to the highly anticipated rematch.
The event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas also featured WNBA star Sophie Cunningham, who appeared ringside as a ring girl for the co-main event. Cunningham showed off her finger point celebration while serving in that role for the bout between Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint Dennis.
Fans watching at home reacted to Cunningham’s appearance, with one fan joking that she “lasted longer in the Octagon than Conor McGregor.” The Indiana Fever guard has become known for her confident personality both on and off the basketball court.
Holloway’s victory moves him forward in the featherweight division while McGregor focuses on recovering from the knee injury sustained during the opening exchange.
