Conor McGregor’s return to the octagon against Max Holloway at UFC 329 lasted just 69 seconds after the Irishman suffered a knee injury.
McGregor came out of the gate with a couple of high kicks but missed on both occasions and ended up on the canvas.
The 37-year-old got back to his feet but looked unsteady and referee Mike Beltran waved off the contest as he stumbled.
It was McGregor’s first appearance in the UFC since he broke his leg in defeat against Dustin Poirier in 2021.
Holloway was looking to avenge his defeat to McGregor when they first met in 2013 and takes his record to 28 wins in 37 fights.
“You guys are lucky because there is going to be a Holloway v McGregor 3 now,” Holloway said.
“It is what it is. I’ll sit down with the UFC. There was so much hype for that. We have to run it back one more time. We need one more.
“I was looking forward to this. I was working hard to get to 170lb and fight this guy. For it to end like this, it sucks.”
Former featherweight champion Holloway was making his debut at welterweight at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The defeat is the seventh of McGregor’s career and fourth in his last five fights, with just one win on his record since 2016.