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McGregor Loses to Khabib at UFC 229 After $200 M Boast

7/9/2026

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Summary

McGregor Faces Nurmagomedov

Irish fighter Conor McGregor said Russian former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov had only 13 UFC fights and had done nothing in MMA.
McGregor claimed his net worth was $200 million when he returned to face Nurmagomedov.
At UFC 229 in Las Vegas, McGregor lasted four rounds before Nurmagomedov submitted him with a neck crank.
Nurmagomedov retired in late 2020 with a perfect 29-0 record.

Summary

White Predicts Record

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) CEO Dana White expects UFC 329 to break the promotion’s all-time gate record, topping the $21.8 million set by UFC 306 at the Sphere in 2024.
Conor McGregor has two contract fights remaining, with the second tentatively scheduled for April 2027, a timeline he called “ridiculous.”
Analysts say a McGregor win could earn a title shot in late 2026 or 2027 against Justin Gaethje or Islam Makhachev.

Summary

McGregor Returns

Conor McGregor is scheduled to fight Max Holloway at UFC 329 this weekend, marking his return to the octagon.
Islam Makhachev, a close friend and training partner of Khabib Nurmagomedov, said the McGregor-Holloway rematch could set up a bout with the current 170-pound champion.
Makhachev added that a fight between him and McGregor would be the closest fans could get to revisiting the UFC’s biggest rivalry.

History

Historical Context

UFC 1 debuted on November 12 1993 in Denver, where Royce Gracie won the eight-man tournament and a $50,000 prize, introducing the octagonal cage and inter-disciplinary match-ups. The event’s 86,592 pay-per-view buys proved the concept’s market appeal. Decades later, Conor McGregor’s headline fights, such as UFC 329, build on that early commercial breakthrough, keeping mixed martial arts in mainstream view.

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McGregor Faces Nurmagomedov

Irish fighter Conor McGregor said Russian former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov had only 13 UFC fights and had done nothing in MMA.
McGregor claimed his net worth was $200 million when he returned to face Nurmagomedov.
At UFC 229 in Las Vegas, McGregor lasted four rounds before Nurmagomedov submitted him with a neck crank.
Nurmagomedov retired in late 2020 with a perfect 29-0 record.

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