McGregor injures leg on opening kick vs. Holloway at UFC 329 - ESPN

LAS VEGAS — The long-awaited return of Conor McGregor ended with a whimper as the UFC superstar injured his right leg in the opening seconds of his fight with Max Holloway and was forced to retire in the first round of their main event bout at UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena.

Holloway was awarded an underwhelming TKO victory after the welterweight fight was waved off at 1 minute, 9 seconds.

It was a stunning development in the highly anticipated rematch nearly 13 years after their first meeting, which McGregor won despite tearing an ACL. He wouldn't be so lucky this time around. McGregor appeared to be injured when he charged toward Holloway and landed awkwardly on his right leg after attempting a jump kick when the fight started. McGregor fell to his back and absorbed some ground and pound from Holloway.

The Irish fighter would make it to his feet but fell to the canvas again moments later, favoring his right leg. He would get to his feet again but was clearly compromised, forcing the referee to call the fight off.

Holloway said he urged the referee to stop the fight.

«When I saw him hurt, I was like, 'Man, come on. Call this.' He was done, you know?» Holloway said. «I just [wish] him a speedy recovery.»

A disheveled McGregor immediately exited the ring, skipping his postfight Octagon interview to discuss the nature of the injury. He took to social media later Saturday and denied speculation he was injured before the fight.

«I was throwing kicks, planted and jumping, all throughout camp as well as backstage before the fight,» McGregor wrote in his post. «This came out of nowhere. I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell.»

It was an unfortunate conclusion to the return of the UFC's biggest star.

McGregor, 37, had