Dana White Denies Trilogy Between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway Following UFC 329 Injury Stoppage

Dana White speaks on the lackluster ending of UFC 329 and denies any possibility for a trilogy between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway.

Dana White Denies Trilogy Between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway Following UFC 329 Injury Stoppage

Dana White shuts down Conor McGregor vs Max Holloway 3 (via Bleacher Report, CNN)

Dana White has witnessed countless superstars rise and fade throughout his long tenure leading the UFC. Yet Conor McGregor has always occupied a unique place in the promotion’s history. His disappointing UFC 329 return ended abruptly through injury, leaving his future uncertain. White has now addressed McGregor’s standing following the shocking injury fiasco that overshadowed International Fight Week.

McGregor’s long-awaited UFC return against Max Holloway lasted only 69 seconds after disaster struck during the opening exchanges. The Irishman landed awkwardly while throwing an early jumping kick, immediately compromising his right leg and forcing visible instability. Referee Mike Beltran waved off the contest after McGregor repeatedly lost balance, awarding Holloway a first-round TKO victory.

The packed T-Mobile Arena erupted before the opening bell, anticipating McGregor’s long-awaited UFC return. Instead, the contest ended within 69 seconds, drawing loud boos from the stunned Las Vegas crowd. McGregor walked backstage in an emotional state, while Holloway hinted at a trilogy inside the Octagon. White later shut down any immediate plans for a trilogy during the post-fight press conference.

I don’t like talking about making fights at the end of the fight, but definitely not that scenario.

Dana WHite via UFC 329 post fight press conference

Following the defeat, McGregor insisted he entered UFC 329 without any injury concerns. He pointed to his pre-fight warm-up, where he was seen throwing kicks and sparring before the walkouts. McGregor maintained that the injury occurred during the fight, adding to uncertainty over his UFC future.

Both fighters entered the rematch determined to deliver memorable performances on one of the UFC’s biggest stages. Holloway hoped to surpass his iconic UFC 300 knockout over Justin Gaethje. Those plans disappeared quickly as McGregor’s injury ended the contest almost immediately.

McGregor also carried enormous expectations into UFC 329 after promising a rejuvenated version of himself ahead of the comeback. He repeatedly stated his goal was to deliver a masterpiece in his long-awaited return to the Octagon. Instead, the injury ended the fight, leaving his future uncertain.

Before UFC 329, White discussed the possible outcomes surrounding McGregor’s return after his absence from competition. He remained hopeful about the futures of both McGregor and Holloway after the matchup. White revealed he had five scenarios planned for McGregor and three for Holloway.

UFC 329 still showcased the Irish star’s unmatched impact on the promotion despite the disappointing ending. Dana White revealed the event generated a record $26 million live gate, surpassing UFC 306’s previous mark. The numbers highlighted Conor McGregor’s continued ability to drive historic business.

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Dana White goes off at the UFC broadcasting team after a similar naming blunder as UFC 306

Dana White has maintained strict standards for UFC broadcasts, emphasizing production quality, presentation, and consistency. The UFC head honcho’s focus on improving the viewing experience has played a major role in the promotion’s rise to global recognition as a sports brand.

Despite UFC’s high broadcasting standards, rare mistakes have created unexpected controversies. During UFC 306 at the Sphere, the broadcast mistakenly identified Terence Crawford as Kendrick Lamar while showing him cageside. The error became one of the most notable production mishaps of the promotion.

Dana White's UFC Freedom 250 numbers revealed
Dana White’s UFC Freedom 250 numbers revealed (via LA Times)

At UFC 329, another broadcast error occurred when undefeated boxing star Shakur Stevenson was shown on screen. The UFC graphic mistakenly identified the boxing champion as NBA player Jalen Williams. The mistake frustrated White, who criticized his production team after the event.

I just paid Shakur Stevenson a ton of money, and for some reason we can’t figure this out. They put him up as a OKC NBA player. Are you kidding me?

Dana White via UFC 329 press conference

Stevenson’s Zuffa Boxing signing made the broadcast error more notable, given his growing relationship with White. The UFC CEO has shown strong support for the boxing star while building his new promotion. The incident highlighted why White continues demanding higher standards from his broadcast team.

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