UFC 329 live results: Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2
The biggest star in UFC history returns this weekend as the UFC celebrates International Fight Week in Las Vegas, capped off by UFC 329 at the T-Mobile Arena.
Former UFC Lightweight and Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor returns from a five-year layoff, making his much anticipated return in a rematch with former UFC Lightweight and BMF Champion Max Holloway, in the main event. McGregor defeated Holloway in August 2013, long before both went on to become celebrated champions.
McGregor’s return comes with lots of controversy, from drug testing issues to losing civil lawsuits involving rape charges, but the hype regarding his return is in full effect coming nearly five years after a devastating leg injury suffered in a loss to Dustin Poirier.
The co-main event features the return of another big international star as Paddy Pimblett looks to rebound from an interim title fight loss when he takes on Benoit Saint-Denis, winner of four straight fights.
The rest of the main card features a bantamweight rematch between Cory Sandhagen and Mario Bautista; a battle of top-five flyweights as Brandon Royval takes on Lone’er Kavanagh; and long-time veteran King Green takes on Terrance McKinney in a lightweight fight.
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> Flyweights- Alessandro Costa (16-5, 4-3 UFC) vs. Cody Durden (18-10-1, 7-8-1 UFC)
Durden lands a leg kick as Costa misses a wheel kick. Costa lands a right hand before a brief clinch. Durden lands a leg kick and Costa is pressing forward. Costa lands a big combination inside the pocket and Durden eats it well. They trade as Durden was rushing in for a takedown. Durden tries for another takedown but Costa defends. Costa lands a right hand. 10-9 Costa.
Costa lands a leg kick and Durden lands a right hand. Durden with a nice inside leg kick and Costa lands an uppercut. Durden slips on a kick and Costa gets on top. Costa gets into side control and takes the back. Costa trying to get the hooks locked on and has the body triangle on. Costa locks in a rear-naked choke and Durden is bleeding. It is in deep and Durden taps! Costa picks up the win.
Fight Result- Alessandro Costa def. Cody Durden by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:19 of Round 2
> Middleweights- Ryan Gandra (9-1, 1-0 UFC) vs. Zachary Reese (10-3 1 NC, 4-3 1 NC UFC)
Gandra lands a body kick. They trade in close range. Gandra lands a right hand. Gandra drops Reese with a left hand and starts landing from the top and it is stopped. What a finish by Gandra!
Fight Result- Ryan Gandra def. Zachary Reese by TKO (punches) at 1:15 of Round 1
> Bantamweights- #10 Farid Basharat (15-0, 6-0 UFC) vs. John Garza (6-1, 0-0 UFC)
Basharat lands a calf kick. Garza working the jab. Basharat with a pair of calf kicks. They both throw and Basharat scores a takedown. Basharat spins and takes the back. Garza is able to spin out and gets to the top, but they scramble up. Basharat is able to score another takedown. Basharat passes guard into side control. They scramble up. Basharat lands a head kick. They trade jabs. Basharat with a left hand. They tie up and Basharat lands a short elbow as they break. Basharat lands a spinning elbow then a knee. They trade right hands. 10-9 Basharat.
Basharat lands a jab. Basharat with a front kick. Basharat looks for a takedown but Garza defends and lands some knees before they break apart. Basharat lands an uppercut and a leg kick. Basharat gets a brief takedown but Garza is able to spin to his feet and they tie up before Basharat grabs the back. Garza is defending Basharat trying to get him down and they separate. Basharat scores a takedown and is in side control. Basharat lands an elbow and lands a knee to the body as they stand. Garza lands a nice body shot followed by another one. Basharat lands a left hook. Basharat grabs a single leg and scores a takedown. Basharat lands a right hand from the top. Garza scrambles up and lands an uppercut. 10-9 Basharat, 20-18 Basharat.
Basharat lands a calf kick as Garza is pressing forward and throwing. Basharat looks for a takedown, but Garza defends. Basharat works the jab. Garza lands to the body. Garza landing with more volume as he lands a right hand. Basharat fires back a right hand. Basharat lands a pair of calf kicks. Basharat looks for a takedown, but Garza defends and lands a pair of knees to the body. Garza lands a body kick. Basharat shoots for a takedown, but Garza defends and lands an uppercut as they separate. Basharat lands a pair of calf kicks. Basharat follows with a right hand. Basharat scores a takedown. Basharat working inside the guard. Basharat lands a short elbow. Basharat with more shots from the top. 10-9 Basharat, 30-27 Basharat.
Fight Result- Farid Basharat def. John Garza by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
> Middleweights- Damian Pinas (9-1, 1-0 UFC) vs. Cesar Almeida (7-2, 3-2 UFC)
Pinas lands a leg kick. They trade leg kicks. Pinas with some leg kicks. Almeida throws a high kick and a right hand. They trade and Almeida is able to score a takedown. They get up and Almeida lands a pair of body kicks. Almeida lands a leg kick. Pinas with a left hook. They trade kicks. Pinas lands a combination. Pinas with a leg kick and Almeida lands a body kick. Almeida with another body kick. Pinas drops Almeida with a right hand and Almeida is out! Pinas with a big knockout out of nowhere!
Fight Result- Damian Pinas def. Cesar Almeida by knockout (punch) at 4:44 of Round 1
> Women’s Flyweights- #8 Tracy Cortez (12-3, 6-2 UFC) vs. #10 Wang Cong (9-1, 4-1 UFC)
They trade leg kicks. Cong lands a right hand and a leg kick. Cong connects to the body and Cortez lands a leg kick. Cong lands a leg kick and Cortez goes down for a moment. Cong lands a right hand as Cortez stands and then a jab to the body. Cong with another calf kick. They trade in close range as Cong lands a leg kick. Cortez with a body kick. Cong continuing with leg kicks. They both scramble to the mat and Cortez looks for a guillotine choke, but Cong defends and they trade in the clinch. 10-9 Cong.
Cortez lands a right hand and a leg kick. Cong lands a left hand. Cortez shoots for a takedown but falls to the mat. Cong landing from a standing position. Cortez gets to her feet. Cortez lands a combination. Cortez scrambles for a takedown and is on her knee and Cong lands an illegal knee clear as day and timeout is called. Cong has a point taken away. They return to action. Cortez with an inside leg kick. They trade in close range. Cortez lands a right hand. Cong lands a left hand followed by a right hand. Cong with another overhand right. Cong lands to the body. 9-9 round due to the point deduction, 19-18 Cong.
Cong with a calf kick as they trade in close range. Cong lands a solid combination. They tie up against the fence with Cong having the advantage. Cong lands a knee. Cong lands a leg kick and Cortez’ leg is badly hurt. Cong lands a solid right hand. Cortez looks for a takedown but Cong defends. They trade left hands. Cong with a front kick to the body and lands a body shot that hurts Cortez. Cong lands a right hand then a jab to the body. 10-9 Cong, 29-27 Cong.
Fight Result- Wang Cong def. Tracy Cortez by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
> Featherweights- Luke Riley (13-0, 2-0 UFC) vs. Kai Kamaka (18-7-1, 2-2-1 UFC)
> Bantamweights- Cody Garbrandt (15-7, 10-7 UFC) vs. Adrian Yanez (17-6-1, 6-3-1 UFC)
> Heavyweights- Gable Steveson (3-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Elisha Ellison (5-2, 0-1 UFC)
> Light Heavyweights- Nikita Krylov (31-11, 12-9 UFC) vs. Robert Whittaker (26-9, 17-7 UFC)
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> Lightweights- King Green (35-17-1 1 NC, 16-12-1 1 NC UFC) vs. Terrance McKinney (18-8, 8-5 UFC)
> Flyweights- #4 Brandon Royval (17-9, 7-5 UFC) vs. #5 Lone’er Kavanagh (10-1, 3-1 UFC)
> Bantamweights- #4 Cory Sandhagen (18-6, 11-5 UFC) vs. #5 Mario Bautista (17-3, 11-3 UFC)
> Lightweights- #5 Benoit Saint-Denis (17-3 1 NC, 9-3 UFC) vs. #9 Paddy Pimblett (23-4, 7-1 UFC)
> Welterweights- Conor McGregor (22-6, 10-4 UFC) vs. #4 LW Max Holloway (27-9, 23-9 UFC)
MMA writer & live coverage specialist, contributor to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter