Conor McGregor, a prominent fighter in the UFC welterweight division, is scheduled to undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) this week for his right leg. This examination aims to shed light on the knee injury that unexpectedly halted his highly anticipated comeback during UFC 329, which took place in Las Vegas on Saturday night (July 11).
Following the MRI, McGregor indicated on Instagram (July 13) that he would undergo surgery and rehabilitation, with hopes of returning to the octagon for another fight.
McGregor Awaits MRI Results
The excitement in the T-Mobile Arena was palpable before the injury, as fans witnessed an entertaining UFC lineup, especially Paddy Pimblett’s impressive rise as a Top 5 contender. Pimblett’s rapid victory over France’s Benoit Saint Denis showcased his capability, finishing the fight in just over a minute using a swift transition from a guillotine choke to a D’Arce choke.
Pimblett’s electrifying entrance had energized the crowd, demonstrating his unique ability to captivate fans.
Fight Ends Suddenly
Conor McGregor made a bold entrance for his welterweight clash against Max Holloway and began the fight with an unexpected jumping roundhouse kick, a maneuver described as “crazy” by commentator Joe Rogan.
At 37, and after a five-year hiatus since his last bout against Dustin Poirier—which ended in a leg break—McGregor landed awkwardly on his right leg. Despite his attempts to continue fighting, he struggled to find his footing. After grabbing his knee and attempting another kick, the referee, Mike Beltran, called off the fight upon noticing McGregor’s difficulty.
Pimblett Claims the Spotlight
“That’s an enormous disappointment,” Rogan commented on the abrupt end of the fight.
Daniel Cormier, a former MMA fighter turned commentator, noted that McGregor came out with great energy but made an error with his kick, attributing it to his prolonged absence from the sport.
Emotional in the aftermath, McGregor expressed on X, “My head gasket is gone. Completely wrecked. I had zero injuries prior to the fight.”
ACL Injury Speculation?
As conservative boos accompanied him leaving the Octagon, many speculated about McGregor’s future in the sport. Holloway alluded to the possibility of a trilogy fight in years to come, recalling McGregor’s prior victory over him in 2013.
Post-fight, UFC CEO Dana White suggested they are anticipating a blown ACL injury. Should this be confirmed, recovery could sideline McGregor for approximately nine months, as stated by the Cleveland Clinic’s typical recovery timelines. If it turns out to be a damaged meniscus, the recovery window could range from four weeks to nine months, depending on the severity of the tear.
Sportsbook Implications
Betting markets saw significant activity, particularly at BetMGM, where the most popular fight tickets were for McGregor versus Holloway. Bettors heavily favored McGregor to win at +220, with a prop bet on McGregor winning by KO/TKO or DQ also drawing significant attention at +250.
Meanwhile, the future looks bright for Paddy Pimblett, who remarked, “The new kid is in town,” indicating every upcoming match for him will be an event. Speculations swirl about possible opponents such as Charles Oliveira, a rematch with Justin Gaethje, or a heated showdown with Ilia Topuria.
A’s Draft Top Talent
The Major League Baseball (MLB) draft took place over the weekend (July 11-12), focusing attention on the Oakland Athletics, who are set to relocate to a $2 billion stadium on Las Vegas Boulevard in the 2028 season.
This season, the A’s are struggling with a record of 41-55 in the American League West, trailing by eight games and 6.5 games behind the Wild Card.
With the No. 8 overall pick, they selected center fielder Drew Burress from Georgia Tech. Although his draft stock had cooled slightly, Burress has been an offensive powerhouse at Georgia Tech, achieving a batting average of .357 over three seasons.
Las Vegas Stadium Updates
As reported by ESPN, the soon-to-be Las Vegas Athletics have shown remarkable skill in drafting and nurturing young talent since 2020. Names like Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, Tyler Soderstrom, and Max Muncy, all first-round selections, along with 2023 second-round pick Gage Jump, are now part of their major league roster.
Expect Burress to arrive swiftly in the majors, further enhancing the strength of the Las Vegas team.
On the stadium front, while still a construction site, local reports noted the installation of large steel roof arches slated to support the enclosed, climate-controlled 33,000-seat venue. The future layout of home plate is also taking shape.
NBA Expansion Excitement
In the NBA realm, Commissioner Adam Silver is set for his annual summer news conference tomorrow (July 14), following the NBA Board of Governors meeting in Las Vegas. The Summer League, showcasing the top young talent from the recent draft, continues in Las Vegas, concluding this Sunday (July 19).
Discussions are expected to center around the potential for adding teams in Las Vegas and Seattle, fueled by the Board of Governors’ earlier approval of the process.
Topics to cover at Silver’s media availability include the timeline for announcing new franchises, national media rights negotiations, international expansion of the sport, salary cap considerations, and especially the issue of gambling integrity, particularly in light of ongoing court cases involving Malik Beasley and Terry Rozier.
Silver’s Remarks on Tuesday
Potential ownership groups have already emerged, including one led by Jerry Colangelo, which has committed $8 billion towards financing both a new franchise and a basketball-centered multi-purpose venue. This initiative is generating considerable excitement throughout Las Vegas.
Also joining the fray is Bill Foley, owner of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights, who has proposed housing an NBA team in the T-Mobile Arena alongside the hockey franchise.
Additionally, NBA Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson has presented a bid entailing a new resort project to host a basketball team.
Stay tuned for further updates following Silver’s press conference.