Conor McGregor’s UFC return ends in disaster as Irishman suffers brutal injury just ONE MINUTE into UFC 329 showdown against nemesis Max Holloway

Conor McGregor’s long-awaited comeback lasted barely a minute after the Irishman was forced to end his bout with Max Holloway at UFC 329 due to a major injury.

‘Notorious’ appeared to blow out his knee in his first at-bat at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas; Replays showed McGregor grimacing in pain after the attempt.

The result brings a completely deflating end to a five-year comeback billed as one of the greatest events in UFC history and will spark new questions about whether the Irishman’s body can endure at the highest level.

It was over as quickly as it started. McGregor landed an early scissor kick that missed the target and appeared to suffer a knee injury in the process. He remained on the canvas, gingerly rising to his feet.

A few minutes later he tried the same kick again and collapsed again with the same result. After McGregor righted himself a second time, he turned to referee Herb Dean and canceled the fight himself.

There was no dramatic ending, no obvious knockout blow from Holloway; It was a sobering scene only to see McGregor’s team rush to his side.

McGregor’s comeback took five years. His last appearance in the Octagon ended horribly at UFC 264, when he suffered a broken leg against Dustin Poirier that required emergency surgery and a long road back.

The Irishman blew out his knee after kicking in the first seconds of the match

Saturday’s outcome – a new injury sustained in the first shot of his comeback – will raise urgent and painful questions about whether McGregor’s body can withstand the UFC level again.

More to follow.