Conor McGregor has offered a new theory for his injury at UFC 329, while doubling down on his claim that his loss to Max Holloway should be overturned.
On 11 July, McGregor fought for the first time in five years, but his return ended in personal disaster, as he tore his ACL and meniscus in just over one minute.
The Irishman, 38, fell to the canvas in the opening seconds while throwing a running, jumping kick, and he fell several more times before the referee waved off the bout.
Now, McGregor has suggested that he might have slipped and injured himself due to the Octagon mat being “wet”.
“The white orange and green machine,” McGregor wrote on Instagram, while sharing footage of his walkout against Holloway. “Mosying on back to the office, up the office!
“Sorry I’m late but the dry ice has the cage floor wet it’s a no contest.
“Now chop chop for the champ champ I’ll see ya’s next year 100%.”
A dry-ice machine has been used for several of McGregor’s walkouts throughout his career, always without issue.
McGregor also previously claimed the result should be changed from a first-round TKO loss into a no-contest, but there is no precedent for such a decision.
McGregor’s injury against Holloway, whom he previously outpointed in 2013, led to many theories that he had entered the bout injured – or injured himself while making his ring walk. However, the fighter and UFC chief Dana White dismissed those conspiracies.
In any case, the result marked McGregor’s second consecutive first-round injury, after his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier in 2021 ended with “Notorious” sustaining a broken leg.
His rematch with Holloway was not only McGregor’s first fight since that severe injury; it was also his first bout since a civil jury found him liable for sexual assault in 2018. McGregor appealed the verdict of that 2024 case, but to no avail.
McGregor has already said he is due to undergo surgery on his latest injury, with a 2027 “Last Dance” on the agenda. The former two-weight champion has one fight left on his UFC contract.
