Episode summary
Host Ariel Helwani and his team dissect the catastrophic conclusion to Conor McGregor's five-year comeback attempt at UFC 313, where the Irish star suffered a knee injury just 69 seconds into his fight against Max Holloway. The bout, which generated a record-breaking $26 million gate, ended without a single significant strike landed after McGregor threw an opening switch kick and immediately buckled on his right knee. McGregor posted a series of dark social media messages in the aftermath, describing himself as being in 'hell' with 'the devil staring at me' before pivoting to religious themes and confirming he expects surgery. The episode features extensive analysis of conspiracy theories surrounding whether McGregor had a pre-existing injury, with Helwani and his sources maintaining there was no injury going into the fight. The show examines why McGregor's team planned such an aggressive opening despite his 38-year age, five-year layoff, previous injuries, and documented hard living. A striking revelation emerges about Ireland's reaction: Irish media barely covered the fight buildup, and social media showed citizens celebrating McGregor's loss with 'victory laps,' marking a complete reversal from his peak popularity. Helwani contrasts this with Paddy Pimblett's dominant performance on the same card, noting the Liverpool fighter generated more crowd energy than McGregor and represents the UFC's future while McGregor embodies the past. The episode also covers Robert Whittaker's light heavyweight debut, King Green's comeback victory, and the debut of Olympic wrestler Gable Steveson. Helwani argues the UFC now holds all leverage in negotiations with McGregor, whose value has diminished significantly, and questions whether fans will invest emotionally in another comeback attempt after this deflating result.
