There is plenty to unpack from UFC 329 in Las Vegas, but every storyline was eclipsed by what unfolded in the main event. Conor McGregor returned to the Octagon for the first time in five years, only for his long-awaited rematch against Max Holloway to end in heartbreaking fashion.
Just 69 seconds into the fight, the former two-division champion suffered a serious right knee injury, one that many believe involves an ACL or meniscus tear, bringing the contest to a devastatingly anticlimactic end. Referee Mike Beltran had no choice but to wave off the bout, awarding Holloway the victory via first-round TKO.
In the immediate aftermath, many wondered whether the injury had effectively brought McGregor’s MMA career to a close. The Irishman, however, quickly dismissed retirement speculation. Taking to social media, McGregor reaffirmed his faith in God and vowed to undergo knee surgery before returning to fulfill the final fight remaining on his current UFC contract.
Despite that promise, many fans remain skeptical. After all, McGregor was already attempting to rebuild his career following the gruesome leg break he suffered at UFC 264, and now, at 38 years old, another lengthy rehabilitation could make a successful return even more difficult. If McGregor does make it back to the Octagon, though, Israel Adesanya believes there is only one logical opponent waiting for him: Michael Chandler.
Speaking on the Precision podcast with Demetrious Johnson, the former middleweight champion argued that McGregor should finally give Chandler the fight that has been delayed for more than two years.
He said, “I did see [McGregor] when he was sitting down, and he looked distraught. He looked like, a lot of weight on him. He kind of picked at his glove for a second, so I thought, ‘Is he going to retire?”
Adesanya added, “I don’t think so, but a fight with Max again after a five-year layoff, you’re fighting at the top of the heap. You’re fighting one of the best to do it. That’s a hard fight to come back against. I say, if he does decide to come back later on, Chandler would be the only fight that makes sense.”
Israel Adesanya says Michael Chandler should be Conor McGregor’s first opponent if he decides to fight again. After years of waiting for the matchup, Adesanya believes McGregor owes Chandler the opportunity.
🗣️”He kind of owes Chandler that fight.”
( Via: Precision with Mighty… pic.twitter.com/gSIKAw0EGg
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) July 13, 2026
For the unversed, McGregor and Chandler were linked to one another for the better part of two years. The pair were eventually selected as opposing coaches on Season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter, with the expectation that they would meet in McGregor’s comeback fight. The bout was later booked to headline UFC 303 in June 2024, but those plans fell apart after McGregor withdrew with a toe injury.
Chandler ultimately spent nearly two years on the sidelines waiting for the blockbuster payday before finally returning to competition. Given that history, Adesanya believes McGregor owes Chandler the opportunity they were both promised.
The former 185-pound champion added, “He kind of owes Chandler that fight. He honeydicked him for, like, two, three years while Chandler was waiting for the big money fight. So now, after The Ultimate Fighter, after all those times, it would be good for them to kind of settle the score because they even have a little bit of—Not beef, but they’ve got some heat there. That would be the fight I think he should come back to.”
Adesanya also suggested Chandler is perhaps the only opponent who makes sense for McGregor at this stage of both fighters’ careers. He concluded with, “I think Chandler would be the only fight to make right now. It’s a favorable matchup, and also it’s a winnable matchup for Chandler as well, fighting a guy like Conor coming off a long layoff and not really getting fulfilled in this fight.”
The matchup certainly has merit. Neither man is in his athletic prime, and both are looking to halt difficult stretches in their careers. Chandler is riding a four-fight losing streak and has gone just 1-6 in his last seven appearances. McGregor, meanwhile, has fought only a handful of times since 2017, with his lone victory coming against a fading Donald Cerrone, leaving him with a 1-4 record over that span.
On paper, it is one of the few high-profile fights that feels genuinely competitive at this stage of their careers. Beyond the records, the rivalry already exists. They have built-in chemistry, know how to sell a fight, and still have unfinished business dating back to TUF. If McGregor can recover from his latest knee injury and make one final walk to the Octagon, finally facing Chandler would bring their long-running saga full circle while giving both veterans one last meaningful showdown.
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