McGregor’s Coach Addresses Knee Injury Speculation

John Kavanagh, Conor McGregor’s coach, defended the UFC fighter, stating that McGregor’s right knee had never been a concern leading up to his quick match against Max Holloway at UFC 329.

This much-anticipated clash at T-Mobile Arena ended abruptly after just 69 seconds when McGregor executed a flying kick but landed awkwardly on his right knee, sparking rumors about a possible pre-existing injury.

In a Facebook update posted Sunday, Kavanagh expressed his devastation over the incident but dismissed claims that McGregor was hurt before the fight. He explained that the kick had been practiced extensively and that it was never a problem. “It couldn’t have been worse,” he added, reflecting on his own discomfort from the first kick.

A report by Erich Richter noted that McGregor had trained without any issues leading up to the fight, practicing the kick just days before. There were speculations about a torn ACL following the bout, and McGregor did not speak to the media afterward.

After the match, the Irish fighter limped out of the arena, hurried by security, who were urging people to clear a path for him to get to a waiting vehicle. He also refused an interview with Paramount Plus, which was covering the event.

McGregor later took to social media, addressing the injury indirectly, claiming, “there were no injuries” during the fight and that the injury “came out of nowhere.”

In another post, he expressed disbelief at the situation, emphasizing he was sharp and ready. “Any idea that I was unprepared is nonsense,” he claimed. “I’m going to church tomorrow. I’ll get through this. I won’t flinch. I’ll be back.” Previously, McGregor had dealt with a torn ACL back in 2013, but UFC CEO Dana White maintained that the fighter appeared in good health, suggesting that any pre-existing issues would have been evident.