TLDR
- Conor McGregor returned to the UFC after five years away, facing Max Holloway at UFC 329.
- The fight ended in just over a minute after McGregor suffered a knee injury.
- The event became the most heavily wagered MMA fight in BetMGM’s history.
- DraftKings said 92 percent of the money bet on the fight backed McGregor.
- Sportsbooks profited heavily as most bets became worthless within minutes.
Conor McGregor stepped back into the UFC octagon after five years away from the sport. Fans had waited a long time for his return. The anticipation translated into one of the biggest betting events in mixed martial arts history.
McGregor faced Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 329. The fight did not last long. It ended just over a minute after it began.
BetMGM said the fight became the most heavily wagered MMA event in the sportsbook’s history. Only the Jake Paul and Mike Tyson boxing match drew more betting activity across all combat sports on the platform.
McGregor entered the fight as a plus-240 underdog. Bettors still backed him heavily. BetMGM reported that no other fighter on the card drew more betting tickets or more total money to win outright.
What Bettors Were Backing
Bettors did not just wager on who would win. Many placed bets on how the fight would end.
Knockout or technical knockout was the most popular prop bet tied to McGregor. Submission victory and decision win bets also ranked among the busiest markets.
DraftKings reported a similar pattern. The sportsbook said 92 percent of the money wagered on the fight favored McGregor.
More than two-thirds of all betting tickets on DraftKings also backed McGregor. Knockout predictions made up close to a third of both tickets and total betting volume there.
A Minute That Changed Everything
The fight took a sudden turn moments after the opening bell. McGregor attempted a flying roundhouse kick that missed its target.
He appeared to injure his knee while landing from the kick. He immediately struggled to put weight on the leg.
The injury got worse quickly. The referee stopped the fight and awarded the win to Holloway.
The early stoppage left sportsbooks in a strong position. Most of the betting public had backed McGregor to win. Their tickets became worthless almost immediately.
UFC analyst Joe Rogan spoke about the injury during the broadcast. He said landing awkwardly after a jumping roundhouse kick can place heavy stress on the supporting knee.
Some fans speculated online that McGregor may not have been fully healthy heading into the fight. McGregor addressed those claims afterward on social media.
He said he had no physical issues during training camp or while warming up before the fight. He described the knee injury as sudden and unexpected.
McGregor also described the moment as emotionally difficult. He left the cage shortly after the fight ended.
The fight’s abrupt ending had a large financial impact. Sportsbooks recorded one of their strongest results of the year from a single MMA event.
Thousands of bettors who backed McGregor lost their wagers in about a minute. The event stands as a reminder of how quickly a heavily bet fight can turn.
