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John Kavanagh has spoken so openly for the first time about Conor McGregor’s injury, which derailed his return to the Octagon a year ago. The Irishman’s longtime coach admitted that he takes full responsibility for the toe injury that prevented the fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 from taking place.
After a five-year hiatus, Conor McGregor is finally returning to the octagon. In the main event of UFC 329, he will face Max Holloway. This will be his first fight since suffering a dramatic leg injury during his trilogy with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. Many believed at the time that “The Notorious”’s career was over, but the Irishman has been working consistently toward his return and will be back in front of fans this weekend.
McGregor’s first attempt at a comeback was supposed to take place at UFC 303, where he was set to face Michael Chandler. However, a few weeks before the event, the Irishman suffered a toe injury, and the organization was forced to find a new main event on short notice.
In an interview with The Ariel Helwani Show, John Kavanagh admitted that the injury might not have happened at all.
– I’ll put it more bluntly than Conor would have. From the very beginning, I should have made sure both fighters were wearing the proper protective gear. The start of the sparring session was a little too rushed. Sparring has its own rules, but this time it wasn’t handled the way it should have been.
The coach didn’t try to make excuses and openly stated that he took the blame.
– I take responsibility for that. I should have made sure to wear the proper protective gear. Conor accidentally caught Tristan’s elbow. It happened almost immediately, in the first minute of the round, and yet he insisted on finishing all five rounds. Thanks to adrenaline, sometimes you’re able to keep going despite the pain. I felt really bad about it. It was my fault, and I’m not going to hide that.
Kavanagh also assured everyone that, ahead of UFC 329, the team had learned from that situation. As he emphasized, the entire training camp was conducted with extreme caution.
– We were extremely careful during this camp. Conor doesn’t have even the slightest bump or bruise. On Saturday, we’ll see him at his very best.
McGregor’s road to a comeback has been exceptionally long and bumpy. In recent interviews, McGregor himself has admitted that over the past few years he has had to overcome not only physical health issues but also mental challenges. Now he intends to prove that, despite a five-year hiatus, he can still compete with the best fighters in the world.
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