Conor McGregor's longtime coach, John Kavanagh, has refuted claims that the UFC fighter sustained a pre-existing knee injury prior to his UFC 329 bout against Max Holloway. The highly anticipated fight ended abruptly in 69 seconds on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas when McGregor landed awkwardly on his right knee during a jumping kick.
Kavanagh expressed his devastation in a Facebook post on Sunday, stating that the injury occurred on the very first kick McGregor threw. "The opening jump switch kick was drilled daily for months, multiple times in warm up. Never an issue," Kavanagh wrote. "Knee went when he threw the very first kick. Doesn't get any worse than this."
Reports indicated that McGregor was fully healthy before the fight and had been practicing the move in the week leading up to it. McGregor is suspected to have suffered a torn ACL and did not speak with reporters after the fight. He departed the arena quickly, hobbling with security assisting him to a waiting vehicle, and declined an interview with the broadcast partner.
McGregor himself addressed the speculation on social media, asserting that he had no prior injury and the incident occurred unexpectedly. "I was so sharp and so ready for this fight I cannot believe what has happened," McGregor posted on X. "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. I will overcome this. I will not be deterred. I will return."
UFC CEO Dana White also suggested McGregor was healthy entering the fight, noting that any pre-existing injury would likely have been detected. McGregor has a history of ACL tears, having suffered one in 2013.