Conor McGregor has denied speculation that he entered UFC 329 with an existing injury after his comeback against Max Holloway ended in just 69 seconds.
Returning to the Octagon after more than five years away, McGregor opened the welterweight contest with an ambitious jumping roundhouse kick. He landed awkwardly on his right leg and immediately appeared to lose stability in the knee.
McGregor attempted to continue, but Holloway recognised that his opponent could no longer move properly. Referee Mike Beltran eventually stopped the contest, awarding Holloway a first-round technical knockout victory.
The official UFC 329 results recorded the stoppage at 1 minute and 9 seconds of the opening round.
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Footage fuels pre-existing injury claims
The manner of the stoppage quickly led to speculation that McGregor may have been carrying a knee problem before entering the cage.
Some viewers pointed to footage of him preparing backstage and removing his shoes before the fight, claiming he appeared cautious when placing weight on his right leg. Other clips showed him looking unusually subdued while watching Paddy Pimblett’s co-main event victory.
According to The Sun’s report on the online reaction, the footage prompted unverified claims that something had been wrong before the opening bell. There is currently no medical evidence supporting that interpretation.
McGregor insists he was fully fit
McGregor directly rejected the theory in a series of posts after leaving the T-Mobile Arena.
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“I had no injury/injuries going into the fight,” he wrote. “This came out of nowhere.”
Quoted by MMA Fighting in its report on his first statement, McGregor said he had been throwing planted and jumping kicks throughout his training camp and backstage before the bout.
He described himself as “destroyed” by the outcome and said he was in a deeply difficult mental state. In a later message, however, he promised that he would recover and return to competition.
White dismisses conspiracy theory
Dana White also said there had been no visible indication that McGregor was hurt before the fight.
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The UFC chief pointed to the ceremonial weigh-in and McGregor’s aggressive opening, arguing that the fighter’s movements did not resemble those of someone attempting to protect an existing injury.
“He ran right at him,” White said when questioned about the theory.
According to The Associated Press’ account of the post-fight press conference, White said officials had noticed no injury signs during Friday’s weigh-in.
McGregor’s longtime coach John Kavanagh has also said the right knee had not caused problems during camp and that the kick responsible for the injury had been practised repeatedly without incident.
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Exact diagnosis remains unclear
White’s first assessment was that McGregor may have torn his anterior cruciate ligament, although he emphasised that he was not a doctor and that an MRI would be needed.
“We’re assuming blown ACL,” he said. “We’ll find out when he gets an MRI.”
As reported by MMA Fighting following the event, UFC doctors initially shared White’s suspicion, but the promotion had not confirmed the full extent of the damage.
The injury affected McGregor’s right knee. He previously tore the ACL in his left knee during his first fight with Holloway in 2013 and suffered a serious break to his left leg against Dustin Poirier in 2021.
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Fourth defeat in five fights
Holloway’s victory levelled the rivalry at one win each. McGregor had defeated the Hawaiian by unanimous decision when they first met in 2013.
The latest result also extended a difficult run for the former featherweight and lightweight champion. McGregor has now lost four of his past five UFC appearances, with his only victory during that period coming against Donald Cerrone in January 2020.
His defeats have come against Khabib Nurmagomedov, Poirier twice and now Holloway. UFC 329 marked his third consecutive loss and left him without a victory for more than six years.
One fight remains on UFC deal
McGregor said before UFC 329 that he had two bouts remaining on his current contract. The Holloway fight therefore leaves him with one appearance still to fulfil.
According to MMA Fighting’s report on his contract plans, McGregor had been given a tentative date in April 2027 for the final bout. He also suggested he would consider free agency unless the UFC offered him an improved agreement.
Any such plans now depend on his medical results and recovery.
McGregor has faced lengthy rehabilitation before, but he is approaching his 38th birthday and has fought only four times since 2018. Another serious knee injury would inevitably raise questions about whether he can complete his contract.
For now, there is no verified evidence behind the pre-existing injury theory. McGregor’s comeback appears to have been ended by a freak landing rather than a concealed problem, although the full consequences may not become clear until his medical examinations are complete.
