Casey: UFC built International Fight

Conor McGregor’s UFC comeback was supposed to be the crown jewel of International Fight Week—and instead, it ended in heartbreak just 69 seconds into the main event. A suspected blown ACL left McGregor down for the count and Max Holloway with a TKO win, derailing UFC 329 and raising huge questions about what’s next for both the sport’s biggest star and the company’s bottom line. The event smashed gate records and held strong on pay-per-view sales, but now the real test is whether a blink-and-you-missed-it headliner hurts long-term fan engagement or fuels the hype with viral shock value. All eyes are on McGregor’s medical update—will he fight again before 2027, or is the McGregor era officially over?

But here’s the twist: UFC’s plan B delivered. Paddy Pimblett’s lightning-fast submission in the co-main event gives the company a new star to build around, but the brass now faces a tough call—protect Pimblett’s commercial momentum or throw him in the deep end against a monster like Arman Tsarukyan to legitimize his contender status. Holloway, meanwhile, stands at a crossroads: chase big-name welterweight showdowns or jump back into lightweight shark waters against rising knockout artists. Every matchmaking decision now shapes the next era of UFC headlines.

Featuring insights from Dana White and standout performances covered by outlets like MMA Junkie and Stadium Rant.

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