Conor McGregor reacts after losing to Max Holloway in a welterweight fight on the UFC 329 mixed martial arts event Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
LAS VEGAS — Conor McGregor’s manager said in a social media post Sunday that the fighter didn’t have a previous knee injury prior to his shortened UFC 329 fight with Max Holloway.
McGregor’s first fight in five years lasted just 1:09 attributable to a knee injury sustained while attempting a gap roundhouse kick.
READ: Conor McGregor suffers early knee injury, loses to Max Holloway at UFC 329
“That opening jump switch kick was drilled every day for months, multiple times in warmup. Never a problem,” John Kavanagh wrote on Facebook. “Knee went when he (threw) the very first kick. Doesn’t get any worse than this.”
McGregor’s highly anticipated return to the octagon led to disappointment when he awkwardly landed on his right knee within the opening seconds of Saturday’s fight. McGregor tried to proceed, but went to the mat twice more before the scheduled five-round match was halted by the referee.
McGregor and UFC President Dana White each said after the fight there was no pre-existing injury to the knee.