John Kavanagh on McGregor’s Comeback Before UFC 329

In September 2024, Conor McGregor’s coach John Kavanagh said McGregor was training well and could be ready to compete after recovering from injuries. McGregor had withdrawn from UFC 303 against Michael Chandler because of a toe injury, and no new date had been booked. He eventually returned against Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11, 2026, but a knee injury stopped him 1:09 into the first round and Holloway won by TKO.

Kavanagh’s assessment in 2024

Kavanagh described McGregor’s remote training and sparring footage positively, saying that McGregor looked sharp to him. That was the coach’s assessment of training, not medical clearance or a UFC booking. Kavanagh said he would have been comfortable with a December date, while UFC CEO Dana White had not confirmed a return timetable.

The canceled Chandler bout

McGregor and Chandler were scheduled to meet at UFC 303 in June 2024. McGregor withdrew after sustaining a toe injury in training, and the UFC canceled the fight. It was not a UFC 305 booking, and the event did not take place in July. Chandler returned later that year and lost to Charles Oliveira at UFC 309.

The return came much later

McGregor did not compete in 2024 or 2025. His next bout was a rematch with Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas. McGregor injured his knee early in the fight and could not continue; the official result was Holloway by TKO at 1:09 of Round 1. The outcome gives the 2024 training comments their eventual context without treating Kavanagh’s optimism as a prediction of the result.

Training reports and fight results

A coach can describe what he sees in training, but only an announced booking confirms a return date, and the bout itself determines the result. Kavanagh’s remarks showed confidence in McGregor’s preparation at the time. The UFC 329 record shows that McGregor eventually returned nearly two years later and suffered another injury-related loss.

Sources

• Conor McGregor
• UFC
• Dana White
• si.com
• mmajunkie.usatoday.com
• dazn.com
• themaclife.com
• sportskeeda.com
• newsweek.com
• themaclife.com
• UFC 329 official results
• UFC athlete record

Tags: MMA