New Delhi, July 12 -- 09 of the opening round, and that was all. Conor McGregor attempted a jumping scissor kick in the first seconds of UFC 329 on Saturday night, planted his foot to reset, and the joint failed. He crumpled to the canvas at T-Mobile Arena, clutching his right knee, and the five years of recovery, litigation, and promotional machinery that had made him the sport's most anticipated return collapsed with him.

Referee Mike Beltran watched McGregor try to stand. He rose, then went down again. He tried a third time, and Beltran was there before he could stabilize himself. TKO. Max Holloway barely had time to register what happened. The stoppage came before he had thrown anything that resembled a significant punch. The officia...