Dustin Poirier, a longtime rival of Conor McGregor, stated that McGregor's injury during UFC 329 was a result of "karma" for his past actions, describing him as a "dirtbag."
Poirier made these remarks on Monday, following the fight which was stopped 69 seconds into the first round. McGregor landed awkwardly on his right knee while attempting a flying head kick, rendering him unable to move effectively in the octagon. The suspected injury is a torn ACL.
"I thought it couldn't have happened to a better guy," Poirier said during an appearance on “Deep Waters.” "That injury couldn't have happened to a better guy. Earlier this week, he said karma is a mirror, and it definitely is."
The fight's abrupt end left fans feeling they had been deprived of McGregor's return to the octagon for the first time since 2021. However, UFC CEO Dana White indicated that the injury was not pre-existing. White also noted that McGregor and his team had planned the flying head kick as an opening move for weeks, practicing it multiple times in the days leading up to the bout.
"This guy is a dirtbag, and 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 on the tactic. "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."
Poirier suggested that if McGregor's ACL is indeed torn, his fighting career might be over, citing McGregor's age and the severity of such an injury.
In contrast, Chris Weidman expressed a different view, believing McGregor will return to the octagon. However, Weidman anticipates that McGregor will have lost his prior appeal and showmanship. "I don’t think it’s going to be the same," Weidman stated. "I don’t think the excitement and the expectations are going to be the same ever again."
Despite the circumstances, McGregor's opponent, Max Holloway, offered praise for McGregor's toughness and expressed interest in a rematch once McGregor has recovered.
McGregor currently has one fight remaining on his UFC contract. His bout with Holloway at UFC 329 was the first in a series between the two fighters, with their record now standing at 1-1. Their previous encounter was in 2013, where McGregor secured a unanimous decision victory.
Poirier's history with McGregor includes a three-fight series from 2014 to 2021. Poirier secured victories over McGregor in 2021, but suffered a first-round knockout loss in their initial 2014 fight. McGregor notably broke his leg during their final bout.