‘Never an issue’: McGregor camp denies wild comeback conspiracy
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The Conor McGregor camp has continued to deny allegations of a pre-existing injury after the Irish fight legend’s embarrassing UFC comeback on Sunday.
The 37-year-old - who will turn 38 this week - lost to Max Holloway in barely a minute and failed to land a single blow on his long-time rival in a main event that will have fans demanding their money back.
Conor McGregor of Ireland reacts after sustaining a leg injury and losing in the first round of his fight with Max Holloway. Ian Maule
Holloway won by referee stoppage at UFC 329 in Nevada on Sunday, after McGregor’s right knee buckled in the first couple of seconds after the opening bell.
The fight began with McGregor racing towards Holloway and leaping off the ground in an attempted flying roundhouse kick, which missed by several inches, before he fell to the canvas.
He tried another high kick, again falling to the canvas, before dropping a third time and being pummelled by Holloway before the referee stepped in to end the farce.
It’s expected McGregor ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, but commentators and fans speculated the Irishman was already injured before the fight started, leading to questions over the legitimacy of the bout.
Vision was played of a moment before the fight, when McGregor was taking his shoes off. He appeared to wince in pain and hold his right leg in the air, leading commentators to speculate whether there was a pre-existing injury that wasn’t made public.
McGregor later denied he was injured before the fight and now his coach has made the same claim.
“That opening jump switch kick was drilled daily for months, multiple times in warm up. Never an issue,” coach John Kavanagh wrote on Facebook.
“Knee went when he [threw] the very first kick. Doesn’t get any worse than this. Looking forward to seeing my family in a few days.”
McGregor took to social media immediately after the fight to deny a pre-existing injury.
“My head gasket is gone. Destroyed. I had no injury / injuries going into the fight,” McGregor posted on X.
“I was throwing kicks, planted and jumping, all throughout camp as well as backstage before the fight. This came out of nowhere.
Conor McGregor jumps into the air for a kick as he fights Max Holloway. John Locher
“I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell.”
UFC boss Dana White also hit back at the speculation.
“If there was a pre-existing injury, somebody would have noticed,” White told media.
“I don’t think there was. Anything is possible, but he sure didn’t look like it.”
White, though, was among many who were left disappointed with the one-minute farce.
“I was expecting at least a one-round war,” White told media.
“Who knew what Conor was capable of as far as cardio and whatever else after a five-year layoff.
Conor McGregor wobbles on one leg pre-fight. Main Event
“And there we go, we’re assuming a blown ACL. Doctors think the same thing, too.”
It was his first UFC fight in five years, and his previous had ended with a badly broken leg. In the years since then McGregor has been dogged by allegations of rape and drug abuse, and a failed political career.
Nonetheless, fight fans forked out their hard earned cash to watch him take on Holloway a second time, only for the bout to end before it really began.
UFC commentator and podcaster Joe Rogan pointed out it was the same leg McGregor snapped five years ago, and criticised the flying roundhouse kick attempt.
“He just tried a crazy move. He tried to jump and roundhouse kick,” Rogan said.
“If you don’t land in a good way with the supporting leg, you put so much pressure on that knee.
“He landed with his knee in the worst position. He blew his ACL out, 100 per cent.
“It sucks. You just don’t do that.
“It might have been the game plan. He threw the kick with the broken leg... maybe to prove he could still kick with that leg? I don’t know, no one will know, only Conor knows.”
Former UFC fighter Daniel Cormier could not believe what happened.
“It’s like somebody took my candy from me, I’m so sad,” Cormier said.
“It’s so crazy how sad I am.”
Fellow commentator Joe Anik said the arena was in “stunned disbelief”.
“It really seemed like he was back for the right reasons, for legacy, and now potentially there will be another rebuild... or not, we shall see,” Anik said.
Holloway wants a third fight with McGregor.
The crowd booed the Irishman as he hobbled out of the arena, but Holloway told them to get ready for a trilogy bout.
“Let’s give it up for Conor, what an absolute animal,” Holloway said as his rival left the scene.
“When we were in here, I kept trying to call the fight (off), and he kept asking to fight on. But you guys are lucky, because there’s going to be a Holloway v McGregor three now.”
