Conor McGregor is finally set to make his long-awaited return to the Octagon at UFC 329, but his coach, John Kavanagh, is still carrying the weight of the injury that derailed the Irish star’s first comeback attempt.
After five years away from competition, Conor McGregor will face Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 329 this Saturday in Las Vegas. The former two-division champion has not fought since suffering a devastating leg injury against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264, an injury that left many questioning whether he would ever compete again.
McGregor was originally scheduled to return at UFC 303 against Michael Chandler in 2024, but a toe injury forced him out of the fight just weeks before the event. The withdrawal stunned fans and forced the UFC to find a replacement main event at short notice.
Now, with UFC 329 just days away, Kavanagh has opened up about the incident and admitted he holds himself responsible for the injury that delayed McGregor’s return.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Kavanagh did not shy away from accepting responsibility for the training accident that led to McGregor’s withdrawal from UFC 303.
“I’ll say it more bluntly than he will—I should’ve had the protective gear on both guys from the start,” Kavanagh said. “The beginning of it was a little bit rushed, and it’s different for sparring. It just wasn’t done right.”
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According to Kavanagh, the injury happened early during a training session when McGregor accidentally struck a training partner’s elbow.
“I’ll put my hand up. I should’ve had the gear on them, and he awkwardly caught Tristan’s elbow,” Kavanagh explained. “It happened really early, just the first minute or so in the round, and he insisted on doing all five rounds.”
“You can kind of run on adrenaline a little bit. I felt sick about it. It was my fault, and I’m not going to beat around the bush on it.”
The veteran coach admitted the setback was difficult to process, especially considering how close McGregor was to making his return after years of rehabilitation.
While the UFC 303 cancellation was a major disappointment, Kavanagh believes the extra time has ultimately benefited Conor McGregor.
The coach revealed that the team has taken a much more cautious approach throughout this training camp to ensure McGregor reaches fight night in peak condition.
“We’ve been super careful this training camp,” Kavanagh said. “He doesn’t have a bump or a bruise. We’ll get to see the best version of him.”
McGregor has also spoken openly about the physical and mental challenges he faced during his recovery from the leg injury. The former champion recently admitted that getting back to this point required overcoming significant obstacles both inside and outside the gym.
Now healthy and fully focused, McGregor is determined to prove that he still belongs among the sport’s elite.
Kavanagh Explains Conor McGregor’s Late Arrival to Fight Week
In addition to discussing the UFC 303 setback, Kavanagh also addressed concerns from fans after Conor McGregor was absent from the first two episodes of the UFC 329 Embedded series.
With memories of the canceled Michael Chandler fight still fresh, some fans began wondering whether another issue had surfaced.
Kavanagh quickly dismissed those concerns and explained that the decision was intentional.
“He’s in a really good space, and I’ll apologize, I maybe had a part in him being a bit late arriving,” Kavanagh said.
“We were originally going to come in on Friday, and we were up in Newport and it’s so beautiful. I might’ve suggested, ‘Why don’t we stay here another few days and just go in at the last moment?'”
According to Kavanagh, remaining in their training environment allowed McGregor to maximize his preparation before traveling to Las Vegas.
“The weather and the climate were perfect. We got a few extra training sessions done over that weekend, which I feel if we had come into Vegas we may not have, so I think it worked out well.”
Despite concerns surrounding his lengthy layoff, Conor McGregor appears fully locked in ahead of UFC 329.
The former champion has repeatedly stated that he still has unfinished business in the sport and believes he is entering a new chapter of his career. A victory over Max Holloway would mark one of the most significant comeback stories in UFC history and potentially open the door to another title run.
For Kavanagh, however, the biggest relief will simply be seeing his fighter finally make the walk after years of setbacks.
After carrying the blame for the failed UFC 303 comeback, the veteran coach is confident fans will finally see the version of Conor McGregor they have been waiting for.
