McGregor stumbles on camera before knee injury ends UFC 329

Conor McGregor's right knee gave out 69 seconds into his UFC 329 fight with Max Holloway on Saturday night in Las Vegas, but footage suggests he may have entered the cage already compromised.

According to MMA Mania, video captured McGregor stumbling during his walkout prep when he lost his balance while removing his shoes in the staging area. Separate warmup footage shows him staggering backward after throwing a high kick, a moment the UFC production team replayed after the stoppage at T-Mobile Arena.

McGregor's history of fighting injured

The former two-division champion opened the welterweight bout with a running switch kick, landed awkwardly on the right leg, and collapsed when the knee buckled. He fell twice more trying to stand before the referee waved off the fight with Holloway gesturing to the injury.

McGregor has fought through torn ligaments before. He faced Chad Mendes at UFC 189 with a torn ACL, met Khabib Nurmagomedov on a broken foot, and ignored medical warnings about tibial microfractures leading into his third bout with Dustin Poirier — a fight that ended with a snapped leg. MMA Mania noted the pattern and speculated he may have entered Saturday with a strain or minor tear, then aggravated it with the opening kick.

No official word yet on the extent of the damage or whether McGregor knew the knee was compromised beforehand. A post-fight press conference is scheduled for later tonight.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Pre-existing injury? Video captures Conor McGregor stumbling prior to fight-ruining knee explosion at UFC 329