CONOR MCGREGOR ANNOUNCES SURGERY AFTER UFC 329 INJURY

"The Notorious" Wrote On Social Media About The Injury And His Plans For The Future

Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor announced he’ll undergo surgery following a knee injury sustained during the main event of UFC 329.

McGregor ended a five-year hiatus when he returned to the Octagon at T-Mobile Arena on July 11. But his main event fight with former featherweight and BMF champion Max Holloway lasted just 69 seconds when a knee injury sustained in the bout’s opening seconds proved too much to overcome and referee Mike Beltran was forced to wave off the contest.

Immediately following the bout, McGregor shared an update to his followers on social media.

“My head gasket is gone. Destroyed,” he wrote on X.

“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.”

McGregor continued and directly addressed suggestions online that he was carrying an injury into the bout.

“I was so sharp and so ready for this fight, I cannot believe what has happened,” he wrote.

“The talk of me being off while walking in to the fight is nonsense. I was calm, ready, and confident. I am in shock what has taken place. The devil is literally staring at me right in front of my face here. I am not engaging. I will be at church tomorrow.”

McGregor then defiantly declared that he will fight back from his latest injury setback to return to the Octagon again.

“I will overcome this. I will not be deterred. I will return.”

Speaking to reporters backstage at the UFC 329 post-fight press conference, UFC President and CEO Dana White offered his thoughts on McGregor’s situation.

“Listen, everybody who knows anything about the fight business – and it’s been a big topic of discussion leading up to this fight – five years off, in this sport, is rough,” he said.

“Who knew what Conor was capable of as far as cardio, or whatever else, after a five-year layoff. And, well, there you go.

“We’re assuming [he sustained a] blown ACL. I’m no doctor, but that’s what I figured when I saw it, and the doctors think the same thing, too.”

Conor McGregor is consoled by Bruce Buffer after suffering a loss against Max Holloway in a welterweight fight during the UFC 329 event at T-Mobile Arena on July 11, 2026 in Las Vegas, NV (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

White said he wasn’t sure what the future held for McGregor, but he didn’t have to wait long for “The Notorious” to make clear his plans as the Irishman posted an update to his Instagram on Monday.

“Surgery. Prehab. Return to martial arts practice. Go again,” he wrote on X.

- SIMON HEAD, ON X: @SIMONHEADSPORT

GOLDEN KNIGHTS BEAT HURRICANES IN 2OT'S, TAKE 2-1 STANLEY CUP LEAD

June 6 (UPI) -- Paralyzing tension stuffed T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, as the Vegas Golden Knights weathered a chaotic comeback and beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 in double overtime in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.

The typically stingy Hurricanes held the Golden Knights to just two shots in a scoreless first period at T-Mobile Arena. Forward Mitch Marner then scored the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup Final history in the second, steering the home team in firm control. But the visitors surged for four fourth-period scores to force overtime.

A lucky bounce for the Golden Knights ended Game 3, as a Shea Theodore shot ricocheted off a wall and net minder Brandon Bussi's pad and landed in the goal for the game-winner in the second bonus period.

"We just let our foot off the gas," Theodore said on the ABC broadcast. "I think we have to be sharper in the third, but I like the resiliency of the group."

With the win, the Golden Knights took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven game series. They will host Game 4 on Tuesday at home.

The Golden Knights outhit the Hurricanes 66-42. They held a 35-33 lead in shots and 30-14 advantage in blocks.

Marner registered an assist, in addition to his three goals in a record 6-minute, 12-second span. Fellow forward Tomas Hertle and Theodore logged a goal and assist apiece.

The Hurricanes trailed 4-0 when forward Jordan Martinook scored their first goal with 12:57 remaining. That score sparked the fastest string of three goals by one team in Stanley Cup Final history, with the Hurricanes finding the net two more times over a 39-second period.

Taylor Hall and Jordan Staal added the next two Hurricanes goals, cutting the deficit to one. Fellow forward Andrei Svechnikov scored the Hurricanes' final goal with 1:42 remaining in regulation.

"That can't happen again," Theodore said. "Just the bounces. Defensively we have to be sharper. ... I was fortunate to get a bounce there in overtime."

The Golden Knights had two goals disallowed early in the second period. Hertl broke the deadlock 10:26 into the frame, teeing up Marner's melee on the Hurricanes net.

Marner beat goalie Frederik Anderson for his first goal just 16 seconds later for a 2-0 Golden Knights lead. He found the net again with 5:28 remaining in the period for the Golden Knights' third goal.

Marner completed his hat trick with slap shot less than two minutes later.

The Hurricanes pulled Anderson in exchange for Bussi to start the third period. Martinook started their rabid rally by beating Carter Hart for the first time of Game 3. Hall followed with the Hurricanes' second goal 26 seconds later. Jordan Staal beat Hart for a third Hurricanes score with 12:18 remaining.

Svechnikov tied the score with a fourth consecutive score with 102 seconds remaining in regulation. Neither Alex Butlerteam scored in the resulting overtime period, triggering the second bonus period.

Defenseman Brayden McNabb slid the puck across the blue line for a Theodore one-timer attempt on the game's final sequence. The blast sailed wide of the net, but drilled the back boards, found the bottom of Bussi's left pad and flipped into the net, ending the thriller.

The Golden Knights will host the Hurricanes in Game 4 at 8 p.m. EDT Tuesday in Las Vegas. Game 5 will be Thursday in Raleigh, N.C.

- Alex Butler

SEBASTIAN FUNDORA SEEKS NEW CHALLENGER FOR FIRST TITLE DEFENSE; ERROL SPENCE FIGHT NO LONGER IN PLAY

 

A fight that never received the green light from one sanctioning body is officially off the table.

Sebastian Fundora will now seek a new challenger for the first defense of his unified WBC/WBO 154-pound title reign. The Ring’s No. 4 rated junior middleweight was linked for months to a showdown with former unified welterweight titlist Errol Spence Jr., which is no longer in play.

ESPN.com’s Mike Coppinger—who revealed the fight’s collapse on Thursday—previously reported that the fight was targeted for March 29. Spence (28-1, 22 KOs) himself denied any such rumors, nor did it seem logical for Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) to cram three pay-per-view events in a span of nine weekends.

PBC will host PPVs shows on Feb. 1 (David Benavidez-David Morrell) and March 1 (Gervonta Davis-Lamont Roach WBA lightweight title fight).

Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs) has not fought since his title winning effort over then-unbeaten Tim Tszyu (now 24-2, 17 KOs; No. 7 at 154 by The Ring) last March 30 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Spence joined him in the ring during the post-fight interview, an intentional move to plant the seed for such a fight.

The WBC was prepared to approve the fight. The Mexico City-headquartered outfit already had Spence as its number one contender. The ranking was met with raised eyebrows as Spence hasn’t fought since a July 2023 one-sided knockout loss to Terence Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) and has yet to campaign at junior middleweight.

Those exact reasons were why the WBO was never on board.

“The WBO would not sanction Fundora/Spence due to the latter being (1) inactive for 1 year & 5 months; (2) a TKO loss in last bout; (3) not rated in 154 lbs., & 4) has never fought in 154 lbs.,” explained WBO president Gustavo Olivieri. “Ruling otherwise would be a disservice to the rest of the 154 world-rated contenders.”

That very stance has remained the same by the WBO Championship Committee since the fight was first suggested last year.

Fundora was instead ordered to face Crawford, The Ring’s No. 3 pound fighter and No. 1 junior middleweight who currently owns the WBA and interim WBO titles. The two sides reached an agreement that would permit Fundora to enter a voluntary defense. It led to speculation that Spence would get the fight, though never with more than one belt at stake.

With the fight now tabled—if not done altogether—the WBO is pressed with a decision whether to reorder Fundora-Crawford or confirm details of any contingency plan in place.

Xander Zayas (20-0, 12 KOs) and Charles Conwell (21-0, 16 KOs) are the two highest rated WBO junior middleweight contenders. Zayas is due to face unbeaten Slawa Spomer (20-0, 11 KOs) on Feb. 14 at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater in New York City.

Conwell does not have a fight scheduled as this goes to publication. The Ring’s No. 8 junior middleweight contender picked up three knockout victories in a productive 2024 campaign after promotional issues left him benched the prior year. He is prepared to cash in that good fortune for his first career title shot.

“This the moment we been waiting on,” Conwell, a 2016 U.S. Olympian, said in a post on X. “I’m here and ready! I’m ready to fight, unlike Errol Spence.”

Meanwhile, Spence’s next move is not known, nor does it seem like his heart is still in the sport.

“Boxing is so f---ed up,” Spence, who turns 35 in March, said in a Jan. 15 post on X to suggest he already knew the score.

- JAKE DONOVAN

DANA WHITE SLAMS MGM FOR 'DISRESPECT' TO UFC AMID SEPT. 14 CONFLICT

Getty Images 

 Two titans of the fight game, Canelo Alvarez and Dana White, will go head-to-head Sept. 14 in Las Vegas in a rare scheduling conflict between marquee boxing and MMA events.

Mexico's Alvarez, boxing's top star, defends his unified super middleweight championship vs. Edgar Berlanga at MGM property T-Mobile Arena. Two miles away, UFC will stage the first live sporting event at the revolutionary Sphere venue with UFC 306.

Sean O'Malley defends his UFC bantamweight championship vs. Merab Dvalishvili in the main event of Riyadh Season Noche UFC as the MMA promotion plants its flag on Mexican Independence Day weekend, a traditional date for boxing's biggest star.

"Canelo's one of those guys that I respect and hey, good on [PBC's Al] Haymon," UFC president White told ESPN on Friday. "Haymon snatched that date right away from me. The guys at MGM have done nothing but f---ing disrespect me and the UFC for 20 years. It is what it is. Here we go."

UFC has staged four pay-per-view events at T-Mobile Arena each of the past two years. And MGM controlled all the viable live sporting event venues on the Strip until the Madison Square Garden company opened the Sphere in September.

That paved the way for White and UFC to still hold a major event on Sept. 14 even after PBC and Canelo reserved the date with MGM Resorts International. White beat Canelo to the punch last year and staged the first iteration of Noche UFC (a Fight Night event at T-Mobile Arena) after the MMA promotion reserved the date.

Alvarez instead fought two weeks later at T-Mobile Arena and secured a victory over Jermell Charlo.

"PBC is thrilled to continue the more than 20-year tradition of championship boxing in Las Vegas on Mexican Independence Day weekend with our friends and partners, MGM Resorts and T-Mobile Arena," a PBC spokesperson told ESPN on Friday.

"It's even more special this year as Canelo Alvarez, boxing's biggest star, will fight Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14 in what will be the sixth time the Mexican icon has celebrated the holiday weekend in Las Vegas. We wish our friends at UFC the best of luck with their event."

A spokesperson for MGM Resorts International said there was nothing to add to PBC's statement.

Before Alvarez took hold of the revered boxing date (along with Cinco de Mayo weekend), those two Mexican holidays were reserved for Floyd Mayweather (and Oscar De La Hoya prior to that). This year, the September weekend will be shared by both Alvarez and UFC.

That was made possible after Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, agreed to sponsor UFC 306 as he continues to commercialize Riyadh Season.

"We will eat him," Alalshikh told ESPN about his event competing with Canelo's.

White, time and again, has expressed just how expensive it is to hold an event at the Sphere with its immersive screens and the art direction necessary to take advantage of the venue's audio and video capabilities. The Sphere also boasts the world's highest resolution LED display, one that wraps up, over and around the audience.

That sponsorship money from Alalshikh and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia allowed UFC to become the first live sporting event at the Sphere. White acknowledged last month at the UFC 303 postfight news conference that they've already spent $17 million on the event. He claimed the experience UFC delivers at the Sphere "will never, ever be replicated ... because it costs too much money."

"This is going to be an incredible tribute to the Mexican people for their extraordinary contributions to combat sports," White said.

But now, White and UFC will have to contend with the biggest sports star in Mexico, Canelo Alvarez.

Canelo is expected to cruise past Berlanga, a heavy underdog, and Alalshikh hopes it will help him secure the biggest fight in boxing afterward. That's Canelo vs. Terence Crawford, ESPN's No. 2 pound-for-pound boxer.

Crawford fights Israil Madrimov on Aug. 3 in Los Angeles, the main event of the first Riyadh Season event outside Saudi Arabia. If Crawford is successful and wins a title in a third weight class, Alalshikh will look to match him with Alvarez next year.

"I will give Canelo what I think is a fair price," Alalshikh said. "If he accepts it, he deals directly with me to finish the deal. I don't want anyone in the middle. I guaranteed Crawford a big fight, I want Canelo for Crawford and Crawford wants Canelo. But if Canelo is crazy [with his financial demands] I will still guarantee Crawford any fight he wants."

Alalshikh has delivered five boxing events since he took hold of the boxing industry in October with Tyson Fury-Francis Ngannou. His biggest boxing match was the Oleksandr Usyk-Fury undisputed heavyweight championship fight in May.

Alalshikh and White staged the first UFC event in Saudi Arabia in June.

- Mike Coppinger, ESPN Boxing Insider

REMATCH WITH TSZYU OR FIGHT WITH SPENCE? FUNDORA HAS MANY OPTIONS

Tim Tszyu, left, suffered a cut in Round 2 and lost a split decision to Sebastian Fundora on Saturday. Esther Lin/PBC

 Sebastian Fundora, blood still sprayed all over his long torso, soaked in the biggest victory of his career when Errol Spence Jr. stepped through the ropes.

Fundora, the 6-foot-5 ½, 154-pound "Towering Inferno," just pulled off the upset with a split-decision win over Australian star Tim Tszyu to capture two junior middleweight titles on Saturday in Las Vegas inside T-Mobile Arena.

It's a fight Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs) wasn't even a part of until 11 days out, when he received the call to replace Keith Thurman, who ruptured his biceps.

Fundora, 26, broke his nose in the opening round and lost the first two on all three scorecards. But when Tszyu leaned over to attack toward the end of Round 2, he collided with Fundora's left elbow, suffering a big cut on his hairline that didn't stop bleeding.

It's no accident Spence was ringside and immediately thrust into the ring just two months after he underwent cataract surgery. Clearly, there were at least plans in place for Spence to fight the winner. All three boxers fight under the PBC banner.

And if it's not going to be Tszyu, it should be Terence Crawford who receives the first crack at Fundora. As the WBO's "super" champion at 147 pounds, Crawford was able to position himself for a mandatory shot at a new weight, and it's expected the fight with Fundora will be ordered this week.

Fundora now owns two belts, and if he wants to fight Spence, he can vacate the WBO strap and still defend the WBC title.

"It's time to get it on," Spence said. "He gotta face the big dog now. ... He got a pretty good height, but we'll see. We'll break him down like we always do."

Elsewhere at 154 pounds, there's Uzbek Israil Madrimov, who won the WBA title last month with a TKO victory over Magomed Kurbanov. Madrimov, between his athleticism and power, appears to be a formidable fighter.

Vergil Ortiz Jr., too, now resides at 154 pounds. He'll fight for the second time at junior middleweight April 27 vs. Thomas Dulorme. There's also the IBF title, whose vacancy will be filled by a Jack Culcay-Bakhram Murtazaliev fight on April 7 in Germany.

Jermell Charlo remains ESPN's No. 1 boxer at 154 pounds -- for now -- but he's no longer the undisputed champion. In fact, he has yet to compete at junior middleweight since he defeated Brian Castano in a May 2022 rematch.

As Tszyu said, Fundora is the "new king of 154," a shocking development after he was KOed by Brian Mendoza in an upset last year. And if everything plays out as it should, Tszyu will land his deserved rematch next. Just don't count on it. -- Mike Coppinger

Pitbull adds new dimension to stacked 140-pound division

As Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz said in the ring following his dominant beatdown of Rolando Romero Saturday night, he is now a player at 140 pounds.

Or did you miss the WBA junior welterweight belt he took from Romero with his eighth-round stoppage?

"There is going to be a Mexican champ at 140 pounds for a long time," said Cruz (26-2-1, 18 KOs), of Mexico City.

Might there be a unified champ at the weight class? Should that be Cruz's next goal?

Teofimo Lopez holds the title for the WBO, while Devin Haney holds the WBC strap. A fight with Subriel Matias, the IBF's champ, could be a great matchup that could tap into the rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Plus, it's a division boasting the likes of Ryan Garcia, Lopez, Regis Prograis and Jose Ramirez.

Then there's the matter of Gervonta Davis, the WBA's lightweight champ. "Tank" handed Cruz his most recent defeat five fights ago, by unanimous decision, on Dec 5, 2021, in Los Angeles. That was for the WBA's "regular" lightweight title.

"I don't have anything to say to Gervonta, really," Cruz said. "He can [say] whatever he wants, but we silenced the doubters tonight. If he isn't scared, let's go for the rematch."

And of Garcia, who has his own fight with Haney upcoming?

"Ryan Garcia can say whatever he wants," Cruz said. "I'll make him eat all the trash he talks, just like I did with Rolly."

After Cruz's performance against Romero, he's in position to create his own immediate path.

"I'm very happy and humbled to win this title for my family and for Mexico," he said. "I was prepared for this. I wasn't here to just fight; I was here to terminate him. I did my talking right here in the ring.

"Damn, it feels good to be a world champion." -- Paul Gutierrez

"Boom, you're blinded completely," said Tszyu, the son of Hall of Fame boxer Kostya Tszyu. "This is boxing and this is part of the sport. Congratulations to Fundora, he's the new king of 154."by

As the new ruler of the junior middleweight division, Fundora will have bountiful, lucrative options. The fight that makes the most logical sense is an immediate rematch with Tszyu.

After all, it was a close fight, and Tszyu faced trying circumstances with a gruesome cut that spooled blood into his eyes for the duration of the fight. It was also a thrilling fight, one that desperately calls for a return bout.

Tszyu was forced to adjust to Fundora, a far different opponent than Thurman, on 11 days' notice. Fundora, meanwhile, was preparing for Serhii Bohachuk, a fighter who owns a style and frame similar to Tszyu's.

Tszyu gave Fundora a shot at his title and deserves a chance to exact revenge. It's also what the fans called for on social media after the bout. But this is boxing, and as in life, fairness has nothing to do with it.

- Mike Coppinger Paul Gutierrez

CANELO ALVAREZ TROUNCES JERMELL CHARLO TO RETAIN UNDISPUTED TITLE

Getty

LAS VEGAS -- Canelo Alvarez pushed and pushed for the knockout that eluded him in his three previous fights, but it never materialized on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.

That was no fault of his own.

Alvarez floored Jermell Charlo in Round 7 with an overhand right, the second knockdown of the challenger's career, but there weren't many more opportunities for the KO in what ended up being a lopsided unanimous-decision victory for Alvarez, who made the third defense of his undisputed super middleweight championship.

Charlo wasn't willing to engage and rarely threw a punch. He moved away from Alvarez's power shots all night but never attempted to make him pay.

Two judges scored the fight 118-109 with the other tally 119-108.

"Nobody can compete with this Canelo," said Alvarez, ESPN's No. 4 pound-for-pound boxer. "Two months in the mountains [training near Lake Tahoe] without my family. I still love boxing. I love boxing so f---ing much. Boxing is my life. Boxing made me the person I am today."

Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs) entered the ring the undisputed junior middleweight champion and had never competed above 154 pounds before. He was stripped of his WBO title once the fight started and said he would return to 154 pounds where he still holds three titles. Australian star Tim Tszyu will defend the WBO belt on Saturday against Brian Mendoza.

ERROL SPENCE VS. TERENCE CRAWFORD | UNDISPUTED WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

 

BOXING: SAUL 'CANELO' ALVAREZ VS. GENNADY 'GGG' GOLOVKIN | OFFICIAL JUDGES SCORE CARD

BOXING: CANELO ALVAREZ AND GENNADY GOLOVKIN PUT-ON A GREAT SHOW BUT IT ENDED IN A CONTROVERSIAL DRAW

Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin came at the T-Mobile Arena to fight and they did just that, fight!

BOXING: CANELO ALVAREZ SAYS 'IT'S PERSONAL'

Canelo Alvarez is going into the T-Mobile Arena Las Vegas fight wanting nothing but a win over Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin...

BOXING: SAUL 'CANELO' ALVAREZ AMTANDIKA AMIR KHAN KNOCKOUT ROUND YA 6

Mbwembwe za Amir Khan ziliishia round ya 6 wakati ngumi 1 tu hatari sana ya kulia ya Canelo Alvarez ilivyomkuta Khan kidevuni na chali akaanguka chini hoi...Khan alianza vizuri akirusha ngumi ambazo zilifika lakini kwa kuwa Canelo anakudevu kigumu hazikumshtua sana.

BOXING: AMIR KHAN ASEMA ANAUHAKIKA WA KUMCHAPA CARNELO

Amir Khan yuko tayari kumkabili Carlnelo Alvarez katika pambano ambalo kwa ukweli kabisa ni gumu kwa Khan...Tayari Khan yuko Las Vegas kwenye Penthouse yake ambayo akuchungulia nje anaona bango lake kubwa na kwa mbali kidodo anaona ukumbi mpya wa T-Mobile Arena ambapo atazichapa na Alvarez Jumamosi ijayo...

Kwa saa za kwetu huku itakuwa mapema alfajiri Jumapili...Khan anataka mkanda kwa hiyo atakutana na Saul 'Canelo' katika mkanda wa uzito wa middleweight...

Alvarez ni maarufu sana huko Mexico na anapendwa kuliko Rais wao na ni boxer makini na hatari sana kwahiyo Khan anamtihani mkubwa....Bofya hapa upate habari zaidi.