Khabib Nurmagomedov’s manager theorizes Conor McGregor fought injured so he can escape UFC contract

Ali Abdelaziz wonders if Conor McGregor is attempting to speed-run to the exit door.

The previous two-division UFC champion made an unsuccessful comeback after a five-year layoff finally Saturday’s International Fight Week event.

Headlining UFC 329 at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, McGregor lost to Max Holloway after suffering a direct knee injury of their rematch.

There was loads of debate about whether or not the Irishman entered the cage with a pre-existing injury, and the manager of his biggest UFC rival thinks he could have competed simply to tick off certainly one of two remaining contracted bouts.

What’s next for Conor McGregor after UFC 329?

‘Notorious’ suffered a serious knee injury moments into his comeback fight against Max Holloway.

Ali Abdelaziz believes Conor McGregor desired to ensure he moved closer to a UFC exit

Immediately after McGregor appeared to injure his knee with a flying switch kick at UFC 329, the printed showed a wobbly moment from before he entered the cage.

That sparked rumors that the Dubliner was hurt prior to the event, but McGregor has denied any pre-existing injury and insisted the difficulty resulted from his landing after the kick.

Not everyone seems to be buying that, though. Along with Israel Adesanya suggesting McGregor is lying, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s manager recently shared a few of his theories.

UFC 329 marked the penultimate fight on the Irishman’s current contract, and Ali Abdelaziz wonders if he fought despite the injury to ensure he ticked one bout off.

“Perhaps he thought, ‘You already know what? I’ve already got all my guaranteed money, and everybody’s going to say Conor just got injured. He didn’t get beat up,’” Abdelaziz said during an appearance on the Pound 4 Pound podcast with Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo.

“Because I believe Max was going to tune him up. That’s my opinion. I believe Max was going to tune him up because Conor just isn’t the guy he was once.

“I believe Conor took the simple way out. You only have to essentially, really fight all the best way, especially with the sum of money he’s making and the people flying in.

“There are also two scenarios. Perhaps he got injured a bit bit in there, or perhaps he’s like, ‘You already know what? I owe you two fights. Here you go. One fight, and the second I’ll provide you with in six or seven months, after which I’m out.’ That’s what I believe.”

McGregor has vowed to return for the ultimate fight of his current cope with the UFC, which was already laid out for April 2027 before he even entered the Octagon last Saturday.