If the Conor McGregor-Max Holloway showdown at UFC 329 wasn’t odd enough, one of the fighters is now advocating for the bettors who lost money backing him.
Key Takeaways
- Conor McGregor said the fight should be a no-contest, but that doesn’t fit the rules in place.
- Sportsbooks cleaned up with so much money bet on the underdog.
- The fight was stopped 69 seconds in after McGregor was injured attempting a kick.
McGregor, who lost when last Saturday’s bout was stopped 69 seconds in because he suffered a leg injury, said in a social media post on Thursday that “the fight should be a no contest and all bets returned.”
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 16, 2026
No major sportsbooks ruled the fight a no contest. Holloway was given the win as around a -250 favorite.
The ring official called it a technical knockout when McGregor kept going down to the ground unable to fight. Holloway pointed it out to the referee multiple times.
As soon as the fight began, McGregor launched himself at Holloway with an attempted kick, but he landed awkwardly and then struggled to put weight on his right leg. McGregor said in the same social media post that he would know the extent of his injury on Friday.
RIGHT ON THE FIRST KICK 😳
— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) July 12, 2026
Max Holloway gets his hand raised tonight!
[ #UFC329 | LIVE ON @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/8Y5MR1wJ4s
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Highly costly
The fight had massive buildup, considering McGregor, one of the most popular MMA fighters ever, was returning to the octagon for the first time in five years. But it turned out to be a huge win for sportsbooks and a massive loss for customers.
It was the most-bet UFC fight in BetMGM’s history, and 85% of the tickets and 73% of the money were on McGregor (+190).
Bettors and fans were understandably frustrated by the outcome, but the sportsbooks followed the official result of the fight. BetMGM, for instance, states in its house rules pertaining to MMA betting that “if a fight is stopped due to an injury, disqualification, or any other stoppage either by the referee or doctor, then this will be considered a Technical Knock Out (TKO).”
The Nevada State Athletic Commission, which presided over the bout, uses the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, which states that a no contest must involve an “accidental injury.” That does not apply to McGregor, who was hurt attempting a normal fighting move. It did not come from an extreme action or illegal strike.
No pre-fight issue
Fans and analysts have questioned McGregor’s pre-fight health, even pointing to how he was taking off his shoes before entering the octagon on Saturday. But he said after that fight that there was no pre-existing injury, which could’ve led to a different decision by the commission.
My head gasket is gone. Destroyed. I had no injury / injuries going into the fight. I was throwing kicks, planted and jumping, all throughout camp as well as backstage before the fight. This came out of nowhere. I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 12, 2026
“If there was a preexisting injury, somebody would have noticed,” UFC CEO Dana White said after the fight. “I don't think there was. Anything is possible, but he sure didn't look like it.”
Since there is no evidence of that, it’s unlikely that sportsbooks would offer bettors a refund. There are instances of operators deciding to void bets in favor of canceling wagers, mostly as a marketing move. FanDuel, Fanatics, DraftKings, and other sportsbooks do have injury promotions for the NBA and NFL, but that doesn’t apply to all sports.
McGregor has vowed to get healthy and return to MMA at some point, but getting bettors their money back is a battle he likely won’t win.
