Conor McGregor's coach has defended the flying kick that led to his knee injury seconds into his comeback fight against Max Holloway at UFC 329. The Irishman threw a jump switch kick at the opening bell, landed awkwardly, and was forced to quit after just over a minute.
Coach Defends Planned Move
John Kavanagh, McGregor's longtime coach, took to social media to explain that the kick was a planned and drilled move. “Devastated,” he wrote. “That opening jump switch kick was drilled daily for months, multiple times in warm up. Never an issue. Knee went when he threw the very first kick. Doesn’t get any worse than this.”
McGregor, fighting for the first time in five years, had previously broken his leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in 2021. He insisted he was not injured entering the fight and vowed to return. “I was so sharp and so ready for this fight I cannot believe what has happened,” he wrote on social media. “The talk of me being off while walking in to the fight is nonsense. I was calm, ready, and confident. I am in shock what has taken place. The devil is literally staring at me right in front of my face here. I am not engaging. I will be at church tomorrow. I will overcome this. I will not be deterred. I will return.”
Holloway Open to Third Fight
Max Holloway, who won by technical knockout due to the injury, expressed willingness to fight McGregor again. The two first met in 2013, with McGregor winning by decision. “After turning around so fast for this fight in March, it's been fast,” Holloway said. “But I'd love to see this Conor 170lb domain that he was talking about. This different world he was talking about. I want to see what his injury is first, but I then want to come back again in 2027. I will take some time to have a break to see my family, and then you guys will see Blessed return in 2027.”
McGregor's injury occurred in the main event of UFC 329 in Las Vegas. The former two-weight champion lasted only 60 seconds before accepting defeat. Despite the setback, he remains determined to fight again.
