Gable Steveson reflected on his successful Octagon debut at UFC
329. | 📷: Getty/UFC

Ultimate Fighting Championship newcomer Gable
Steveson wanted Elisha
Ellison to feel “pressure†and “pain†at
UFC 329 in Las Vegas.

The U.S. Olympic gold medalist wrestler finished the fight against
Ellison via TKO at the 2:31 mark of their heavyweight clash at UFC
329. Following his debut Octagon win, Steveson discussed his
intentions going into the bout.

Gable Steveson's UFC debut ends with first-round TKO win over
Elisha Ellison

Steveson went into the contest as one of the biggest betting
favorites in UFC history. His performance reflected as much, as he
put away Ellison in the opening round. He out-landed his opponent
41-14 in total strikes.

“See, I wanted Elisha Ellison to feel that pressure; I wanted him
to feel pain. I wanted to go out there and make him quit,†Steveson
said after his win. “And I knew when Elisha Ellison got hit hard,
he would fall down. And he did fall down.â€

Steveson is already one of the most decorated wrestlers in U.S.
history, with two NCAA Division I titles in addition to his gold
medal at the Tokyo Olympics. All four of his MMA victories have
come through first-round knockout.

Luke
Riley took issue with reaction to his finish at UFC 329. | 📷:
Getty/UFC

Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight Luke Riley
was confident that it was only a matter of time before his
UFC 329 opponent, Kai Kamaka
III, went down.

Riley (14-0) took on Kamaka III (18-8) at UFC 329 in Las Vegas. The
Brit took some punishment to his lead leg early in the fight, but
needed just one well-timed right hand to floor his foe, also
opening up a cut near the Hawaiian's eye.

While Kamaka III returned to his feet, Riley was relentless with
his combinations, which was enough for referee Kerry Hatley to call
a stop to the contest. The stoppage drew some backlash from the
commentators and fans online, as Kamaka III was covering up but
still on his feet.

Luke Riley responds to criticism after UFC 329 victory over Kai
Kamaka III

Riley believes Hatley saved his opponent from taking unnecessary
damage. The Liverpudlian is confident he would eventually have
finished Kamaka III.

“Fans have the smallest memories ever,†Riley said in a post-fight
interview. “So, I think after the last one, coming into this one,
[fans were saying], ‘Luke decision, Luke decision. He's gonna
scrape a split decision.' It's like, OK, and then, yeah, that's
what happened: first-round knockout. So, the memory is gonna be
refreshed again.â€

Riley was coming off a decision win over Michael
Aswell going into UFC 329. The undefeated 27-year-old says UFC
fans started considering him a decision fighter after his last
victory. However, he just refreshed their memories with his 10th
career finish.

“Kai is a tough motherf*cker. But once I sniff blood, it's done,â€
Riley added. “Once I landed that shot on the chin, seeing he was
rocked, he was hurt, he was just a wounded animal that was gonna be
put down. And the ref saved him.â€

Furthermore, Riley addressed Joe Rogan and Daniel
Cormier's commentary and views on his finish. “They’ve f*cking
lost their minds. Two more seconds, and he would have been face
down on the canvas,†he said at the post-fight presser.

Conor McGregor's longtime coach has spoken out after his fighter suffered an injury during the UFC 329 main event.

McGregor was hoping to turn back the clock with a vintage performance in his first fight since 2021. The “Notorious†one's bout five years ago ended when he broke his left leg, and his return concluded with a right leg injury. McGregor went for a jumping kick early in his fight with Max Holloway, but he landed awkwardly on the canvas. It was clear to Holloway and McGregor that something was wrong before the referee stepped in to stop the fight.

McGregor's head coach John Kavanagh spoke on the situation in a post on his Facebook page. The SBG Ireland mentor is still trying to process what transpired this past Saturday.

“Devastated,†Kavanagh wrote. “That opening jump switch kick was drilled daily for months, multiple times in warm up. Never an issue. Knee went when he thru the very first kick. Doesn't get any worse than this. Looking forward to seeing my family in a few days.â€

McGregor will now have another road to recovery ahead of him. UFC CEO Dana White told reporters that he believes the top MMA star blew out his ACL. White noted that UFC doctors also feel that's the case before McGregor gets a proper diagnosis. If  the “Notorious†one did tear his ACL, then he can be ruled out of another fight in 2026. McGregor previously told Ariel Helwani that his last contracted UFC fight will take place in 2027.

On early Sunday morning, McGregor issued a statement on his social media pages. While he was gutted by the harsh conclusion to UFC 329, he vowed to overcome his latest setback to make the return he envisioned.

If Conor McGregor ever returns, who would you match him up against? Should the Max Holloway fight be rescheduled? Play UFC matchmaker in the comments below.