Conor McGregor releases dark statement after 69-second loss to Max Holloway at UFC 329

A heartbroken Conor McGregor says he is "destroyed" and "beyond dark" after his long-awaited comeback fight at UFC 329 ended in an underwhelming 69-second defeat to Max Holloway.

After five years away from the sport, McGregor returned to the Octagon on Sunday to face Holloway in what was one of the most anticipated cards in UFC history.

Back in 2013, McGregor beat Holloway by decision, despite tearing an ACL, but he wasn't so lucky at the T-Mobile Arena after suffering a serious knee injury in the opening seconds of the contest.

In fact, the contest was waved off at 1 minute, 9 seconds, with Holloway being awarded a TKO victory.

Speaking in the aftermath of the bout, UFC president Dana White issued an update on McGregor's condition, confirming a suspected anterior cruciate ligament injury.

"Listen, everybody who knows anything about the fight business, and it's been a big topic leading upto this fight, five years off is rough," White said during the post-fight press conference.

"Great card, unbelievable. The Paddy Pimblett fight before, you could feel it in the air, here we go. I was expecting at least a one-round war, who knew what Conor was capable of in terms of cardo after a five-year lay-off.

"But there you go. We're assuming blown ACL. I'm no doctor what I figured when I saw it and the doctors thought it too."

White also confirmed he had no knowledge of a prior injury and pointed to McGregor's antics at the weigh-ins to disprove the theory.

"The day of the press conference? He came running out of the back, they were pushing foreheads," added White, who said he was unsure whether McGregor would conduct media duties.

"I wouldn't know that, the doctors check them out before the fights, he looked damn good at the press conference and fine at the weigh-ins. If anybody saw anything that made him look weak or injured, the face-off did 44 million views, somebody would have saw something.

"Did anybody see it? If they did, they didn't say it. Which is impossible - nobody would do that."

Conor McGregor releases statement after UFC 329 defeat to Max Holloway

Like White, McGregor downplayed the theory that he suffered an injury before stepping into the Octagon.

Taking to social media on Sunday morning, he wrote: "My head gasket is gone. Destroyed. 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," added McGregor. "I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell."

A few hours later, McGregor took to social media again.

"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."

He added: "I will overcome this. I will not be deterred. I will return."

Joe Rogan pinpoints the exact moment Conor McGregor was injured against Max Holloway

As mentioned above, one of the theories included McGregor suffering an injury in the build-up to the fight.

However, commentator Joe Rogan believes the Irishman was left unable to continue after blowing his knee out when attempting a wild jumping roundhouse kick just seconds into the contest.

"He runs out at the start of the fight, jumps and throws a kick," said Rogan. "He steps, watch his right leg, and right there. Blows his knee out right there. He tries to throw it again and it buckles. He winces in pain. It's his right knee, that is crazy. That is literally crazy.

"He blew his right knee out. He blew his knee out in the first fight with Holloway too. He did it with the very first thing he threw. If he didn't just jump out wild like that..."