Conor McGregor’s long-awaited UFC 329 return went awry from the opening seconds after the Irish star appeared to injure his knee with the first strike he attempted. According to McGregor’s longtime coach, the unusual strike he threw — a jumping switch kick — was always part of the plan.
In a statement following the conclusion of UFC 329, SBG Ireland founder John Kavanagh revealed that the technique was “drilled daily for months, multiple times in warm up” and never became an issue. McGregor ultimately lost to Max Holloway in just 69 seconds without landing a single significant strike, suffering yet another setback in his first fight since 2021.
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Devastated
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
Looking forward to seeing my family in a few days.
McGregor, 37, issued his own update Monday announcing his intention to undergo surgery and fight out the final bout of his UFC contract. Ahead of UFC 329, McGregor told Uncrowned that he and promotional officials had already worked out a timeline for his return after UFC 329, with April 2027 being the target date. McGregor also confirmed in that same interview an interest in exploring free agency after the 2027 bout.
“I’m going to [test free agency],” McGregor told Uncrowned. “If it is an unbelievable [UFC] deal, [then it’ll be] signed, for sure. I know you want me free. You want me out here. I’m the highest paid [fighter]. I don’t want to get into this finance, but I’m the highest paid times f***ing — probably four times the highest paid. Times four, maybe, probably even five.
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“I know Turki [Alalshikh] is spending, propping these guys up. Let’s see. I’m a UFC fighter, contracted to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, with an amazing event in the White House. And now we have the Mac back. I’m happy to be back. Let’s go to work.”
McGregor’s prior fight before UFC 329 ended in disaster as well, with the Irish star suffering a gruesome broken leg in his 2021 trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier. McGregor was expected to return in a 2024 bout against Michael Chandler, however he ultimately withdrew from that fight due to a broken toe sustained just weeks before the event.
