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.
PRELIMS | 5 PM ET | 2 PM PT
> 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)
> Middleweights- Damian Pinas (9-1, 1-0 UFC) vs. Cesar Almeida (7-2, 3-2 UFC)
> Women’s Flyweights- #8 Tracy Cortez (12-3, 6-2 UFC) vs. #10 Wang Cong (9-1, 4-1 UFC)
> 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)
MAIN CARD | 9 PM ET | 6 PM PT
> 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