Paddy Pimblett submits Benoit Saint-Denis in first round on McGregor card
"Paddy Pimblett's the biggest star of the night. Paddy Pimblett's the one that came in there in a high-profile matchup where people were doubting him and going, ah, you really probably aren't at this level, you lost to Justin Gaethje. Paddy Pimblett is the star of the night."
About this episode
Ariel Helwani, New York Rick, GC Conor Burks, and PT Carroll recap UFC 329 from Las Vegas, a night that broke the promotion's all-time gate record at $26.4 million but ended in devastating fashion for its headliner. Conor McGregor's highly anticipated comeback after five years away collapsed just 69 seconds into his fight against Max Holloway when his right knee buckled throwing a flying kick. The 37-year-old tried to continue but repeatedly fell, prompting Holloway to ask referee Mike Beltran to stop the fight. Dr. Brian Sutterer suspects a meniscus injury rather than a torn ACL, noting footage of McGregor stumbling while removing his shoe before the fight suggests he may have been compromised entering the octagon. The emotional scene of McGregor refusing crutches and limping out of T-Mobile Arena has many questioning whether this marks the end of the sport's biggest star. In stark contrast, Paddy Pimblett stole the show in the co-main event with a first-round D'Arce choke of Benoit Saint-Denis that left BSD unconscious. The panel unanimously declared Pimblett the breakout star of the night and called for an immediate title eliminator against featherweight champion Ilia Topuria. The card featured eight first-round finishes, the most in UFC history, including impressive performances from Robert Whittaker in his light heavyweight debut, Brandon Royval in a Fight of the Night war with Lonnie Kavanagh, and Bobby King Green's dramatic comeback finish of Terence McKinney. UFC President Dana White exploded at his production team during the post-fight press conference after they misidentified newly signed boxer Shakur Stevenson as an NBA player on the broadcast graphics. The panel spent considerable time debating McGregor's future, with most agreeing his body can no longer withstand elite competition despite his ability to still generate massive interest.
Key takeaways
- Conor McGregor suffered a suspected meniscus injury just 69 seconds into his return fight, with his knee buckling on a flying kick against Max Holloway at UFC 329
- The event generated a record $26.4 million gate, making it the highest-grossing UFC event in history despite the anticlimactic main event finish
- Paddy Pimblett submitted Benoit Saint-Denis unconscious via first-round D'Arce choke and emerged as the breakout star calling for a title shot against Ilia Topuria
- Dr. Brian Sutterer suspects McGregor had a pre-existing meniscus injury based on footage of him stumbling while removing his shoe before entering the cage
- UFC President Dana White berated his production team after they misidentified newly signed boxer Shakur Stevenson as Oklahoma City Thunder player Jalen Williams on broadcast graphics
- Bobby King Green extended his winning streak to four fights at age 39 with a dramatic comeback finish of Terence McKinney at 4:59 of round one
- Robert Whittaker successfully debuted at light heavyweight by breaking Nikita Krylov's jaw, positioning himself one or two fights from a title shot in the shallow division