Joe Rogan recently broke down the biomechanics of Conor McGregor’s opening kick at UFC 329, explaining why attempting a jumping roundhouse kick in the fight’s first seconds put McGregor’s knee in “the worst position” possible.
McGregor’s comeback against Max Holloway ended in an injury stoppage early in the first round on July 11, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
McGregor exploded out of his corner to open the fight and immediately went for the flashy attack. Replays showed his supporting leg buckling on the landing, and after a failed attempt to continue, the referee waved off the bout to prevent further damage.
On the broadcast, Rogan zeroed in on the mechanics of the doomed technique and why it carried so much risk that early.
He just tried a crazy move. He tried a jumping roundhouse kick and when you’re in that position when you throw that jumping roundhouse kick, if you don’t land in a good way with the supporting leg, you put so much pressure on that knee,” Rogan said during the UFC 329 broadcast.
The way he landed, he threw the kick, he jumped up, he threw it and he landed with his knee in the worst position.
Max Holloway was awarded the victory via injury stoppage. The result closed the book on a heavily anticipated return that had been building for years.
A Familiar, Painful Ending
McGregor sat in the corner as medics attended to him before leaving the octagon with help from his team. He did not deliver a post-fight statement.
The abrupt finish stood in stark contrast to the confidence McGregor carried into the bout, having revived his “Mystic Mac” prediction ahead of UFC 329. Dana White had also outlined multiple scenarios for McGregor’s future had he won, none of which are now in play.
The exact diagnosis has not been confirmed by the promotion. McGregor’s previous outing in 2021 also ended in a lower-leg injury, and with another potential layoff ahead, questions about his UFC future are unavoidable.
