UFC 329 was filled with drama and disappointment as the Octagon saw the return of Conor McGregor. Just as shocking as some of the action in the cage, however, is the financials of the stars after the event’s salaries have been released.
With McGregor returning to the cage for the first time in five years, facing off against Max Holloway, there was more than mere money on the mind.
Heading into the fight, anticipation could not have been higher. The UFC world was seeing the fated return of one of its all-time legends. The pair traded verbal blows in the build-up, with McGregor even snatching Holloway’s sunglasses off his head, adding fuel to a fire that was already burning bright.
Conor McGregor’s Return Ends in Injury Heartbreak
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas via Imagn Images
Due to the Irishman’s recent absence from the sport, Holloway entered the fight as the favourite. With the American in good form and good shape, it was always going to be an uphill challenge for McGregor to compete.
However, hope was high, and the hype was higher, as fans tuned in to see McGregor’s comeback. Unfortunately, that hype met an anticlimactic end. In the first round, after just 69 seconds, McGregor suffered a TKO defeat after an injury to his knee.
Looking to make a fast start, the Irishman tried to land a leaping kick and ended up blowing out his knee. He suffered what could possibly be a torn ACL, which can take nine to 18 months to recover from. Talks of a trilogy fight had been mentioned, but with McGregor now 37 years old, he may never fight again.
He described the situation as ‘hell‘, but vowed a return.
With just 52 seconds on the clock, the Englishman had Saint Denis in a guillotine choke. The Frenchman, though, refused to tap out and so the referee had to intervene as he became unconscious.
It was the 31-year-old’s first fight since losing to Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title in January, with Pimblett calling for a rematch in the aftermath of his victory.
UFC 329 Fighter Earnings & Pay
Despite losing the fight after just 69 seconds, McGregor is estimated to have pocketed a staggering $32,000,000. His return was always going to come with eye-watering sums, but even so, he has earned unprecedented amounts of money from the fight.
His opponent, meanwhile, took home a measly $5,600,000 in comparison, over five times less than what McGregor took home with him.
UFC 329 salaries (selected)
Fighter
Estimated total payout
Conor McGregor
$32,000,000
Max Holloway
$5,600,000
Paddy Pimblett
$1,850,000
Benoit Saint Denis
$450,000
Robert Whittaker
$370,000
Cory Sandhagen
$350,000
Brandon Royval
$330,000
King Green
$300,000
Mario Bautista
$250,000
Lone’er Kavanagh
$215,000
Cody Garbrandt
$190,000
Gable Steveson
$180,000
Terrance McKinney
$140,000
Luke Riley
$75,000
Cody Durden
$65,000
Tracy Cortez
$60,000
Kai Kamaka III
$28,000
John Garza
$12,000
Pimblett took home the third-highest sum of the night with a very healthy $1,850,000 to go along with his victory. Saint Denis may have left the cage with a loss, but he took $450,000 with him.
On the other end of the scale, there is John Garza, the 23-year-old debutant who suffered defeat and earned the title of the lowest earner of the night after he took home just $12,000.
The eyes of the UFC world were on Conor McGregor on Saturday as he made his return to the cage when he faced off against Max Holloway. But what should have been a memorable night for its drama and action, became memorable for all the wrong reasons.
Ending his five-year absence from the UFC, McGregor flew out the gates quickly as he attempted to land a flying kick on his opponent. Unfortunately, however, he landed awkwardly on his right knee, leading him to sustain a bad injury.
The Irishman was evidently suffering from the injury and the Las Vegas bout had to be called off by referee Mike Beltran after just 69 seconds.
In the aftermath of the fight, Holloway revealed that, despite suffering the early injury, which could possibly be a torn ACL, McGregor was briefly insistent on fighting on one leg.
Conor McGregor’s Yell After Suffering Knee Injury
Mark J. Rebilas via Imagn Images
Speaking to Paramount +, Holloway said: “The referee said thanks for pushing him (to end the fight) because it is a hard spot. And Conor is crazy.
“Conor is like, ‘fight! fight!’, and I was like, ‘you’re f****** crazy, bro.’ For the first one, when he first fell down, he was like, ‘fight! fight! We’re good!’ And then he went down a second time, I could just tell. His whole demeanour changed.
“I had him weak in the knees, what can I say? I’m just praying for the guy, you know? All jokes aside, as a human being, even when I was in there I was saying to the referee, ‘Yo, this guy is done.'”
Later on at his post-fight press conference, Holloway added: “He brought his kids to the fight, come on. I’m not trying to beat up a wounded dog.”
“My head gasket is gone. Destroyed,” McGregor wrote on his X account. “I had no injury / injuries going into the fight. I was throwing kicks, planted and jumping, all throughout camp as well as backstage before the fight. This came out of nowhere. I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell.”
With recovery time for ACL’s ranging from six to 12 months, there is a long road to recovery ahead of ‘The Notorious’, and at 37, it is not clear whether the Irishman will travel down that road. However, you can never rule McGregor out, and he has already taken to social media to vow a return, writing: “I will overcome this. I will not be deterred. I will return.”
Manchester United are in advanced talks with Aston Villa to sign Youri Tielemans, according to David Ornstein.
The Red Devils have made bolstering their midfield a priority this summer, and have already sealed a deal to bring in Andrey Santos from Chelsea for a package worth around £50m including add-ons.
A deal for Atalanta star Ederson had also been agreed, but United have now pulled out of that deal due to issues with his medical, and they have moved quickly to seal a deal for an alternative target out of the blue.
Man Utd In Advanced Talks to Sign Tielemans
According to The Athletic, Man Utd are now in advanced talks with Villa for the Belgium captain after identifying an opportunity to bring him to Old Trafford.
Argentina have reportedly made a special request to FIFA ahead of their 2026 World Cup semi-final clash against England on Wednesday.
The reigning world champions secured their place in the semi-finals courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Switzerland at the Kansas City Stadium. Lionel Scaloni’s side took an early lead when Alexis Mac Allister headed home Lionel Messi’s corner in the 10th minute.
However, Switzerland began to dominate the match in the second half and Dan Ndoye’s 67th-minute equaliser was no less than the European nation deserved.
The game’s turning point occurred five minutes later when Switzerland forward Breel Embolo was shown a second yellow card, following a mistaken identity VAR review, for a cynical dive.
Argentina went on to win the quarter-final 3-1, with Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez both scoring in the second half of extra-time.
England and Argentina: Old Rivals
The South Americans now prepare to take on their old rivals England at the Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday night.
The two nations haven’t faced each other since the 2002 World Cup group stages, when England secured a 1-0 win thanks to a David Beckham penalty. Four years earlier, Beckham was famously sent off for kicking Diego Simeone as Argentina advanced to the quarter-finals.
But the most famous clash between the two countries happened at the 1986 World Cup finals in Mexico. Legendary forward Diego Maradona netted the most infamous goal in football history – his ‘Hand of God’ goal where he punched the ball into the net after out-jumping Peter Shilton – before scoring the ‘Goal of the Century’ four minutes later.
⚽
World Cup History Quiz
You scored
out of 20
Argentina’s Request to FIFA
REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
Ahead of Wednesday’s semi-final, Argentina have made a special request to FIFA in the hope that it may work in their favour.
Journalist Gaston Edul, per The Mirror, claims that Argentina have asked world football’s governing body if they can wear their all-blue kit as opposed to their iconic blue and white strip.
La Albiceleste have worn their traditional blue and white striped kit in all but one of their six 2026 World Cup matches. The exception was their 3-1 win over Jordan in the group stages.
Argentina wore navy blue during their two most famous wins over England at the 1986 and 1998 World Cup finals.
It seems the South American nation believe wearing navy blue once again could prove to be a lucky omen.
On this occasion, Argentina will be led by talismanic captain Messi, who has never faced England during his long career so far.
“It’s the first time I’m going to play against them. I’ve played against everyone except England, so it will be nice for that reason too.
“We’ll experience it for what it is: a World Cup semi-final against a great team, and we’ll try to arrive in the best possible shape to compete again.”
