Dustin Poirier stated that Conor McGregor deserved the knee injury he sustained during his UFC comeback, labeling the Irishman a "dirtbag" and suggesting the incident was "karma." McGregor's return to the Octagon at UFC 329 in Las Vegas against Max Holloway was cut short just 69 seconds into the first round when he injured his knee after throwing an opening-seconds kick.
McGregor, 38, was competing for the first time in five years. "I thought it couldn't have happened to a better guy," Poirier said on the 'Deep Waters' podcast. "That injury couldn't have happened to a better guy. Earlier this week, he said karma is a mirror, and it definitely is... this guy is a dirtbag."
The fighter's long absence from the sport included injury withdrawals, an 18-month suspension for missed drug tests that concluded this year, and a November 2024 civil jury finding him liable for sexual assault, for which he was ordered to pay $260,000 in damages.
Conspiracy theories circulated among some fans online after footage emerged of McGregor hopping after removing his shoes shortly before the fight. However, McGregor denied these claims, stating in a release that the injury occurred unexpectedly. "My head gasket is gone. Destroyed. I had no injury / injuries going into the fight," McGregor said. "I was throwing kicks, planted and jumping, all throughout camp as well as backstage before the fight. This came out of nowhere. I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell."
Poirier, who has faced McGregor three times, questioned the decision to initiate the fight with a head kick. "I don't know if it was nervous energy or what. I don't know why you would start a fight like that," Poirier commented. "It's like a Hail Mary, you're throwing a Hail Mary to start a 25-minute fight. I don't understand what was going on with that."
McGregor and Poirier have a history, with Poirier winning two of their three encounters in 2021. McGregor defeated Poirier in their first bout in 2014. The third fight in 2021 saw McGregor break his leg.
McGregor has one fight remaining on his UFC contract, and Holloway has indicated openness to a trilogy bout.
McGregor expressed his disbelief following the injury, stating, "I was so sharp and so ready for this fight I cannot believe what has happened. The talk of me being off while walking into 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."