*This content was translated by AI.
It took a full 13 years. Max Holloway's (USA) revenge against Conor McGregor (Ireland) was further cemented by a single remark from his son.
The New York Post reported on the 13th (Korean time), "The fight between Holloway and McGregor involved their families," adding, "When McGregor could no longer continue the match, a video surfaced showing Holloway's son Rush mocking him."
In the footage released by the media, as McGregor collapsed inside the octagon, Holloway's son Rush and his wife Alyssa rose from seats beside the cage to celebrate the victory. Alyssa raised both arms in triumph, while Rush shouted toward McGregor, "Who's your dad now? Who's the dad?"
Holloway secured a TKO victory just 1 minute and 9 seconds into the first round at the welterweight (77.1 kg) main event of 'UFC 329: McGregor vs. Holloway 2' held on the 12th at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
McGregor, who suffered a fractured left leg in his 2021 bout against Dustin Poirier, returned to the octagon for the first time in five years with this fight. As a comeback match after a long absence, it drew intense interest from combat sports fans worldwide.
However, the highly anticipated return ended just 69 seconds into the fight. An unexpected knee injury—not strikes from his opponent—halted McGregor's momentum.
Here is what happened: After attempting a jumping head kick, McGregor misstepped upon landing and failed to regain his balance. He was reported to have suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The referee ultimately stopped the contest, ending McGregor's comeback in a heartbreaking defeat.
There was a reason for Holloway's son Rush to taunt McGregor. Holloway and McGregor first faced each other in 2013. Even then, McGregor suffered an ACL injury during the match but fought through it to win by unanimous decision.
This also explains why McGregor displayed strong confidence ahead of this comeback and rematch. In a promotional video released before the fight, he provocatively stated that he had treated Max "like his own son" in their previous encounter—a remark likely to offend Holloway and his family.
Consequently, when Holloway won after 13 years, Rush returned McGregor's words exactly. The New York Post explained, "Rush's comment appears to target McGregor's earlier description of Holloway as his 'son'."
The report continued, "Once referee Mike Beltran stopped the fight, Rush and Alyssa rose from seats installed beside the cage to celebrate Holloway's victory."
Unlike his son's aggressive taunting, Holloway showed respect toward McGregor. Upon noticing McGregor's injury during the match, he requested the referee to stop the contest.
After the win, Holloway stated, "I noticed McGregor's demeanor and movements changed during the fight. After confirming he was injured, I told the referee, 'End the fight. He's hurt.'"
He added, "I hope McGregor recovers quickly," expressing his wishes for his opponent's health.
In contrast, McGregor fell into despair. Through his social media after the match, he said, "This injury came suddenly," and described his feelings as beyond words except to call it "hell."
It was reported that McGregor had successfully executed this jumping head kick multiple times during training prior to the fight. According to reports, he had focused intensely on practicing this technique for several weeks.
This result made their head-to-head record 1 win and 1 loss each. The New York Post also raised the possibility of a third bout between Holloway and McGregor. The outlet explained, "Their rivalry may not be over yet. Holloway has called for another rematch, while McGregor still has one fight remaining under his contract with UFC."
It further added, "However, fans who attended the event did not respond positively to the call for a rematch. Disappointed by not witnessing a proper contest, they booed."
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*This content was translated by AI.
