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Conor McGregor breaks silence after devastating UFC 329 injury derails comeback: ‘I can only describe it as hell’

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Conor McGregor breaks silence after devastating UFC 329 injury derails comeback: ‘I can only describe it as hell’

Conor McGregor broke his silence late Saturday night after a devastating knee injury ended his comeback in just 69 seconds at UFC 329.

After five years away, McGregor decided to threw a jumping roundhouse kick to start his fight against Max Holloway but an awkward landing ended with his knee popping. McGregor desperately tried to continue but the damage was already done after he struggled to maintain his balance after getting back to his feet, the referee had no choice but to stop the fight with Max Holloway getting the win via TKO.

McGregor limped out of the octagon with help from his team but he took to Twitter to issue his first statement on the disastrous ending to his comeback.

“My head gasket is gone,†McGregor wrote. “Destroyed. 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.â€

McGregor didn't give any update on his actual injury, although UFC doctors have predicted that he likely suffered a torn ACL in his knee. He'll have to undergo further testing to know the full extent of the injuries he suffered during the fight.

But McGregor's statement ends the multitude of conspiracy theories that started floating around as soon as the fight ended that he was already injured heading into the fight.

The UFC 329 broadcast even showed McGregor allegedly favoring his knee as he took off his shoes and got ready to set foot in the octagon for his fight. Obviously, McGregor says otherwise and the injury that happened on Saturday was just a freak occurrence.

Of course, McGregor has suffered a torn ACL in the past, ironically enough during his first fight against Holloway back in 2013. On that night, McGregor tore the ACL in his left knee and he had that surgically repaired by famed physician Dr. Neal Ellattrache.

McGregor made a quicker recovery than most as he returned to the octagon just 11 months later following surgery.

But that was 13 years ago and now McGregor is about to turn 38 years old and he suffered the injury in his right knee so there's no telling how long he could potentially be out of action.

Only time will tell if McGregor is able to plot another comeback or if this injury could potentially spell the end of his combat sports career.

UPDATE: On Sunday morning, McGregor followed up with another post, again denying there was anything physically “off†ahead of his fight.

I was so sharp and so ready for this fight I cannot believe what has happened. The talk of me being off while walking in to the fight is nonsense. I was calm, ready, and confident. I am in shock what has taken place. The devil is literally staring at me right in front of my face here. I am not engaging. I will be at church tomorrow.

I will overcome this.
I will not be deterred.
I will return.

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UFC Belgrade live blog: Jan Blachowicz vs. Navajo Stirling

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UFC Belgrade live blog: Jan Blachowicz vs. Navajo Stirling

This is the live blog for Jan Blachowicz vs. Navajo Stirling, the light heavyweight co-main event for Saturday's UFC Belgrade card at Belgrade Arena in Belgrade, Serbia.

A former UFC champion, Blachowicz (29-11-2) currently stands at No. 6 at 205 pounds in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings. Blachowicz fought Bogdan Guskov to a majority draw in his most recent outing and the two were supposed to rematch Saturday until Guskov was moved to a fight with Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Abu Dhabi this past weekend (Guskov replaced an injured Khalil Rountree Jr.). That unsatisfying result dropped Blachowicz to 0-2-2 in his past four fights and he hasn't scored a win since an injury TKO over Aleksandar Rakic in 2022.

Stirling (10-0) has won his first five fights to establish himself as a future contender in the light heavyweight division. The City Kickboxing product has finished his past two opponents, but faces a huge step up in competition in Blachowicz as he strives to break into the top 10 of the rankings.

Check out the Jan Blachowicz vs. Navajo Stirling live blog below.

Well, that was terrible. This event has been pretty fun, but that feature fight got real heavyweight.

Not entirely sure this will be much better, either.

Stirling walks out to some very somber music. He looks normal. Jan looks a little nervy as he walks? Also, Jon Anik says something about him being unable to lift weights during camp, and now he's seeming like an old man.

Even still, the old man is a saavy fighter. I suspect he uglies this fight up, slows it down, and loses on points.

Jan is 15 years older, 2 inches shorter, and a big dog at +265 with Stirling coming in at -340.

Buffer gets things going and it's time.

Jan out quickly to the center. Stirling with some lead leg kicks early, just small. Then he goes high and slips, allowing Jan to jump on him. But Stirling scrambles up and now they're clinched against the fence, with Stirling holding Jan.

In-fighting here but now major gains. Stirling with more inside calf kicks, staying busy. Jan trying to walk him down but hasn't thrown much.

OH! Stirling drops to a knee and it looks like Jan caught him with a big left hand as he stepped in. Jan tries to pound but Stirling clinches to buy time. He seems to be OK but he had to work it out. Stirling on his bike now, and he's bleeding from the nose as Jan comes forward. But Stirling is getting busier now, with a sharp jab.

HUGE RIGHT HAND from Stirling lands clean and sends Blachowicz to the mat! The commentary is quiet but this might be the end for Jan! Stirling pounces and he's pouring on the ground-and-pound! And that's it!

WOW. What a performance from Navajo Stirling!

Navajo Stirling def. Jan Blachowicz via TKO (punches) — 2:56, Round 1.

Stirling keeps it simple in his post fight. He shouts out Blachowicz, saying he's a big fan. Then apologizes for missing his sister's 21st birthday. Then calls for a fight with either Khalil Rountree of Paulo Costa.

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UFC Belgrade video: Nina Milosevic demolishes Hailey Cowan with brutal body shots

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UFC Belgrade video: Nina Milosevic demolishes Hailey Cowan with brutal body shots

Nina Milosevic kept the hometown vibes going strong on Saturday after she walked through Hailey Cowan on the UFC Belgrade prelims.

Already heavily favored to win, Milosevic proved the odds correct as she looked to put Cowan away from the very first exchange. Milosevic put a front kick to the body that immediately got Cowan's attention and that was almost the beginning of the end as it turns out.

Milosevic continued her varied striking attack until she unloaded a brutal punch to the body that literally had Cowan turning away and covering up from the damage done. That led to Milosevic charging forward and looking for a follow up as she connected with another straight punch straight to the gut that put Cowan down on the canvas.

The referee already saw enough with the fight being stopped at 3:41 in the opening round.

“It feels great and you can see it on me,†Milosevic said while celebrating her win in front of the Serbian crowd. “We practiced this like a thousand, million times. [I want to fight again] as soon as possible.â€

While it may have been her octagon debut, Milosevic's arrival felt like a long time coming as a top prospect in the bantamweight division and now she's finally arrived.

With the win, Milosevic becomes the first Serbian woman to win a UFC fight in her native country and immediately sets the tone for her UFC career as she might inject a little excitement in an otherwise slow-moving 135-pound division.

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UFC Belgrade video: Jovan Leka destroys Alexander Poppeck with loud body kick knockout

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UFC Belgrade video: Jovan Leka destroys Alexander Poppeck with loud body kick knockout

Jovan Leka didn't miss his chance to make history at UFC Belgrade.

The debuting heavyweight became the first Serbian fighter ever to score a UFC win in his native country, dropping Alexander Poppeck with a nasty body kick to set up a quick first-round knockout.

Watch Leka's powerful stoppage below.

Leka was heavily favored heading into Saturday's contest at Belgrade Arena, with Poppeck—usually a light heavyweight—stepping in a little over a week's notice for an injured Max Gimenis and coming in almost 50 pounds lighter than Leka at Friday's official weigh-ins. The strength and power difference was evident from the start as Leka walked Poppeck down, hunting for the knockout early.

It didn't take long for Leka to land a devastating liver kick that visibly rattled Poppeck and a few follow-up shots later, referee Vladimir Badrljica stepped in for the stoppage at the official time of 2:22.

The 24-year-old Leka (14-2) could be one to watch in the heavyweight division. He previously competed on Dana White's Contender Series in 2025, but wasn't signed despite scoring a decision victory over Azamat Nuftillaev. Since then, Leka won two more fights to earn his UFC opportunity.

Poppeck (21-6), who lost to Jamahal Hill on the Contender Series back in 2019, sees a five-fight win streak come to an end.

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