Conor McGregor's UFC 329 Defeat Delivers Record Win for Sportsbooks

Conor McGregor’s long-awaited return to the Octagon generated enormous UFC betting interest, but his quick defeat at UFC 329 proved even more lucrative for sportsbooks than expected. According to the New York Post, McGregor’s first fight in five years became one of the most heavily wagered combat sports events in recent memory, only for the overwhelming majority of bettors to back the losing side. McGregor entered Saturday night’s main event against Max Holloway as a sizeable underdog, but his popularity outweighed the betting odds. Sportsbooks like DraftKings and BetMGM reported that the Irish star attracted the vast majority of both tickets and money wagered despite Holloway being the betting favorite. The fight lasted just 69 seconds. McGregor suffered a serious knee injury after attempting a jumping roundhouse kick, forcing the referee to stop the contest and award Holloway a first-round TKO victory. The unexpected ending produced one of the biggest sportsbook wins of the year while leaving questions about McGregor’s future following another injury setback.

Public Money Flooded In on McGregor

Sportsbooks had anticipated heavy action on McGregor because of his global popularity, but the numbers exceeded expectations. According to BetMGM:

• UFC 329 became the most-bet MMA event in the sportsbook’s history.
• It ranked as the second-largest combat sports betting event overall, trailing only Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson.
• Approximately 88% of all MMA bets on the main event backed McGregor.
• Roughly 81% of the total money wagered was also on McGregor despite him entering as a +250 underdog.

One of the night’s most popular prop bets was McGregor to win by knockout or technical knockout, a wager that quickly became worthless after Holloway’s dominant start.

Holloway Capitalizes Early

Holloway wasted little time taking control after McGregor injured his right knee during an attempted kick. Unable to continue effectively, McGregor absorbed several unanswered strikes before the referee stepped in. The victory further strengthened Holloway’s standing among the UFC’s elite while ending months of anticipation surrounding McGregor’s comeback. The result also highlighted the risks sportsbooks face, and sometimes benefit from, when public betting overwhelmingly favors one of the sport’s biggest stars.

What’s Next for McGregor?

Following the fight, UFC officials indicated McGregor may have suffered a torn ACL, although further medical evaluation is expected. McGregor later denied entering the bout with any pre-existing injury, saying the knee issue occurred during the fight and describing the loss as devastating. At 37 years old and after another lengthy layoff interrupted by injury, questions immediately turned toward whether the former two-division champion will attempt another comeback or if UFC 329 marked his final appearance inside the Octagon.

Betting Takeaways

McGregor’s popularity once again demonstrated that public perception can differ sharply from sportsbook pricing. Despite being a sizable underdog, bettors overwhelmingly backed the former champion based on his reputation and history rather than the betting line. For sportsbooks, the outcome represented a near-perfect scenario. Holloway’s quick victory, combined with heavy public support for McGregor and several losing prop bets, created one of the most profitable UFC events in recent memory. The fight also served as another reminder that betting favorites often carry less public support than superstar underdogs, particularly when one of the sport’s biggest names returns to competition.