'Unicorn' Conor McGregor Praised by Dana White After Major Injury vs. Max Holloway at UFC 329

In the wake of another major injury to Conor McGregor, UFC president Dana White heaped praise on the controversial star for his contributions to the promotion.

Appearing on The Pivot podcast (starts at 6:50 mark), White described McGregor as a "unicorn" because no one will ever be able to become as big of a star in the same way that he did.

"I look at a guy like him like a unicorn," White said of McGregor. "People are always asking me, 'who's the next Conor McGregor?' There's never gonna be another Conor McGregor. In the time, in the place, in the way that he came into the sport. There will be a different superstar, but there will never be another Conor."

McGregor, who lost to Max Holloway at UFC 329, remains the biggest drawing card in UFC history. When UFC was running traditional pay-per-view events, he was in the main event of the top seven shows by buyrate.

UFC 329, which featured McGregor's return to the octagon for the first time since 2021, drew 15.9 million viewers on Paramount Plus across the United States and Latin America.

The fight against Holloway turned out to be a disappointment when McGregor suffered a major knee injury almost immediately after the opening bell. He made it through 69 seconds before the official called it.

McGregor revealed on Sunday he tore his ACL and meniscus, but he is targeting a return to competition next summer with one fight remaining on his current UFC contract.

UFC 329 marked McGregor's first bout since losing to Dustin Poirier in July 2021 when he broke his tibia and fibula late in the opening round.