McGregor's coach says knee was fine before UFC 329 injury

Coach John Kavanagh said Conor McGregor's right knee was not a concern before the fighter's brief bout with Max Holloway at UFC 329. The match ended after 69 seconds when McGregor landed incorrectly on his knee while attempting a jump kick, prompting speculation that the injury was pre-existing. In a Facebook post, Kavanagh wrote that the kick had been practiced daily for months and that the knee was fine until the moment of the kick. A reporter noted that McGregor had been training the technique as recently as the week of the fight and appeared healthy beforehand. The Irish fighter left the arena in his gear, limping, and declined post-fight interviews. On social media, McGregor said he entered the fight without injury and that the damage occurred suddenly, adding that he would recover and return to competition. UFC CEO Dana White also said there was no indication of a preexisting issue.