Ireland Shows Minimal Interest in McGregor Comeback as Home Country Turns on Fighter
"The newspapers, not a lot of coverage at all in the buildup to it. My dad was calling me this week and he was like, mate, I haven't even heard them talk about this on the radio. To see the outpouring of joy for what had happened was pretty crazy. The amount of people sharing things, like a victory lap of sorts because he had lost in this way was pretty crazy."
About this episode
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.
Key takeaways
- Conor McGregor suffered a knee injury 69 seconds into his UFC 313 comeback fight against Max Holloway, with the bout ending without significant strikes after a record $26 million gate.
- McGregor posted dark social media messages describing being in 'hell' with 'the devil staring at me' before confirming he expects surgery and plans to fight out his UFC contract.
- Irish media gave minimal coverage to McGregor's comeback while Irish citizens celebrated his loss on social media, marking a dramatic reversal in his home country support.
- Paddy Pimblett's dominant submission victory at UFC 313 positioned him as the UFC's next major star, with his entrance generating more crowd energy than McGregor's.
- Helwani reports from sources that McGregor had no pre-existing knee injury, contradicting conspiracy theories, though his body has been compromised by age, layoff, and lifestyle factors.
- The UFC now holds significant leverage over McGregor in contract negotiations as his drawing power and negotiating position have been severely damaged by the catastrophic comeback.
- UFC 313 featured seven first-round finishes and standout performances from Robert Whittaker, King Green, and Mario Bautista despite the anticlimactic main event conclusion.