Dana White Rejects McGregor-Holloway Trilogy After 66-Second UFC 329 Injury

Q: After another devastating injury, can McGregor's star power still defy his age and a near decade of poor results?

Yes—but mainly as a commercial force, not as a credible elite contender. McGregor’s drawing power remains extraordinary. UFC 329, despite ending after roughly a minute because of his knee injury, still produced a record UFC gate, showing that his name alone can sell tickets and command global attention after years of inactivity and losses. That is the clearest evidence that his star power still defies age and results in business terms. As a fighter, the picture is much harsher. He is 37, coming off another major leg-related injury after the broken leg against Dustin Poirier in 2021, and he may now face surgery with a recovery that could stretch from several months to a year if the damage is severe. Dana White’s caution reflects the reality: long layoffs, repeated lower-body injuries and age are difficult variables in a sport where most champions and top contenders are younger than McGregor is now. The results also matter. McGregor has only one win since 2016 and his comeback against Max Holloway ended before he could prove he still belongs near the top. Holloway, by contrast, remains active and healthy, and is unlikely to wait indefinitely for a trilogy. So McGregor can still defy decline as an attraction. Fans, broadcasters and the UFC still see him as a rare event-maker. But another devastating injury has made it much harder to argue that he can defy age and poor form inside the cage. At this stage, his value is increasingly in spectacle, not sporting legitimacy.

3 articles · Updated · MMA Fighting · Jul 17

Dana White said he is "not even thinking about" booking Conor McGregor against Max Holloway after McGregor publicly called for the matchup as his final UFC fight.
McGregor still needs knee surgery after blowing out his leg on the first kick of their UFC 329 bout, which ended after 66 seconds and could sideline him for 9 to 12 months if the injury is an ACL tear.
White said McGregor's age, five-year layoff before the comeback and uncertain recovery make it impossible to map out a return, adding the UFC will revisit plans only after he completes rehab and can train full time.
Holloway has shown interest in a third fight, but White noted the former champion is healthy and unlikely to wait indefinitely while McGregor recovers and the promotion gauges demand for another comeback.