John Kavanagh, Conor McGregor‘s longtime coach, claims that the fighter’s right knee was “never an issue” before his short battle with Max Holloway at UFC 329.
After McGregor landed incorrectly on his right knee while attempting a jump kick, the eagerly awaited bout at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday lasted barely 69 seconds. This has sparked rumors that the Irish boxer was injured prior to the match.
Kavanagh denied that McGregor was previously hurt in a Facebook post on Sunday, saying he was “devastated” by what happened. He wrote:
“That Opening jump switch kick was drilled daily for months, multiple times in warm up. Never an issue”. “Knee went when he thru the very first kick. Doesn’t get any worse than this.”
Before attempting the jumping kick, McGregor was in perfect health, and he had been practicing it as recently as this week to be ready for the bout with Holloway. After the bout, McGregor did not talk to reporters and is thought to have sustained an ACL tear.
While security yelled for onlookers to “make a hole” so the injured fighter could get into a waiting car, the Irishman fled the Las Vegas venue still wearing his combat gear and limping. Additionally, McGregor turned down an interview with Paramount Plus, which was airing the bout.
In two social media posts, he did respond to some of the rumors by stating that he “had no injury” prior to the battle.
