Conor McGregor breaks silence on UFC 329 injury loss to Holloway

Conor McGregor has broken his silence on the knee injury that ended his UFC 329 comeback against Max Holloway before it started, denying speculation that he entered the cage hurt.

McGregor buckled on his opening kick of the main event, damaging his right knee and forcing the stoppage. He left the arena barefoot without speaking to media, but surfaced days later on social media to address the anticlimactic finish. "My head gasket is gone. Destroyed," he wrote, per MMA Mania. "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."

McGregor calls UFC 329 loss 'hell' amid injury questions

The statement came after video circulated online showing McGregor stumbling before the bout, fueling questions about whether he was compromised going in. His camp had previously insisted he was healthy, with one member telling reporters McGregor was "100%" with "not a bump, not a bruise."

McGregor acknowledged the mental toll in his post, writing that he was "beyond dark" and could only describe the aftermath as "hell." The loss marked a bitter reversal from his first meeting with Holloway in 2013, when McGregor tore his left ACL mid-fight but still won by decision. This time, the injury to his opposite knee finished him immediately.

No timeline has been announced for McGregor's return or next steps with the UFC.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — This is ‘hell’ – Conor McGregor breaks silence on UFC 329 loss, claims no pre-fight injury