Did Conor McGregor fight injured at UFC 329?

Max Holloway defeated Conor McGregor at UFC 329. Photo: UFC / x

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Conor McGregor 's return wasn't exactly what fans expected. The Irishman entered the main event of UFC 329 , held last Saturday (11), against Max Holloway , after a five-year hiatus from his career. However, in the first minute of the fight, he suffered a knee injury and was forced to withdraw from the fight. But, after all, was Conor McGregor already injured before his fight at UFC 329?

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Immediately after the fight ended, internet users began speculating on social media that McGregor had already entered the fight injured. This hypothesis gained traction after a short clip showed the Irishman limping seconds before entering the octagon (see video below).

#UFC Conor McGregor , walked in injured, watch him taking off his shoes before the fight. pic.twitter.com/cX3bb0n4x1

— Ken Holbrook (living wage investor) (@MMAG33K) July 12, 2026

Dana White denies that Conor McGregor entered the fight at UFC 329 injured.

Dana during an interview. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC

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In the post-event press conference, Dana White downplayed the theory that Conor McGregor had already entered the fight injured. According to the UFC president, the Irishman was examined beforehand and was in perfect condition to fight.

Furthermore, Dana pointed out that approximately 80 million people watched the broadcast of the press conference and weigh-in, and no one noticed any problem with the former champion's movement. According to him, if the injury had already existed, someone would have noticed some obvious sign.

Renato Moicano reinforces his criticism of Conor McGregor fighting while injured.

On the other hand, Renato Moicano didn't hide his dissatisfaction with the outcome of UFC 329. The Brazilian UFC fighter, who is one of the biggest YouTubers in the world in that segment, believes the theory that Conor went into the fight injured.

“You just witnessed the most shameful moment in sports. Worse than any other scene I've ever seen in the UFC. We've seen referees make mistakes, we've seen fighters throw fights, we've seen all sorts of bizarre things. But today was a portrait of something I can't even put into words. Conor McGregor went into the fight to lose,” Moicano exclaimed during his live commentary of UFC 329.

“ Conor McGregor was standing still for five minutes. The greatest legend in the sport, the guy who had the most hype of all time, and he went in defeated. He didn't want to be there and, in my opinion, he was already injured. You could see it the moment he took off his shoe. And the first punch he threw was a spinning kick, which he had never done before,” said Renato Moicano.

Conor McGregor reiterates he had NO injury before the UFC 329 fight.

A few hours after leaving the arena, Conor McGregor took to Twitter to assure everyone that he wasn't injured before UFC 329 and that he had practiced the kick several times during his preparation.

“My knee is gone. Destroyed. I had no injuries before the fight. I was kicking, planting and jumping throughout the entire training period, as well as backstage before the fight. This came out of nowhere. I’m beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell,” Conor McGregor wrote on his Twitter account.

My head gasket is gone. Destroyed. I had no injury / injuries going into the fight. I was throwing kicks, planted and jumping, all throughout camp as well as backstage before the fight. This came out of nowhere. I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell.

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 12, 2026

Warm-up proves Conor McGregor was NOT injured.

Another fact that reinforces that Conor McGregor went into UFC 329 without any injuries is his warm-up. In the locker room, before the fight against Max Holloway , the Irishman repeated the kick several times and showed no signs of injury, as can be seen in the video below:

Injured? Conor McGregor repeated the kick that 'caused' the injury during warm-up without limping. pic.twitter.com/OjWiWyrfeA

— SUPER FIGHTS (@superlutas) July 12, 2026

Watch the moment Conor McGregor suffered his injury against Max Holloway at UFC 329.

The kick that led to the ending 😢 😭 #UFC329

It just wasn't meant to be for Conor McGregor ... pic.twitter.com/wXEdPnH19t

— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) July 12, 2026

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