Khabib Nurmagomedov’s coach praises Conor McGregor despite UFC 329 setback against Max Holloway
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Javier Mendez praises McGregor’s determination after a heartbreaking comeback ends in injury.
Conor McGregor’s long-awaited return at UFC 329 ended in devastating fashion, but one of the most respected voices in mixed martial arts believes the Irish superstar still deserves enormous credit for stepping back into the Octagon.
McGregor’s comeback lasted just 69 seconds before a serious leg injury forced the former two-division UFC champion to suffer a heartbreaking defeat against Max Holloway. The setback immediately ended discussions of a potential welterweight title fight against Islam Makhachev and reignited questions about whether McGregor will ever compete again.
Despite years of rivalry between McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov, Khabib’s longtime coach, Javier Mendez, offered a heartfelt tribute to the former champion following the disappointing result.
Javier Mendez believes Conor McGregor’s body failed him, not his mindset
Speaking with Submission Radio, Mendez praised McGregor’s commitment throughout training camp and insisted the Irishman entered UFC 329 with the right mentality.
“To have a warrior like Conor train as hard as he did after a five-year layoff and make a comeback, only for something like that to happen, your heart has to go out to the guy. I may not like him as a person at times, but I have to respect what a great warrior he is. To see him go out that way is not the way I would want anyone to go out.”
Mendez also suggested the injury should not dramatically alter McGregor’s future inside the UFC.
“Who do I give Conor for his next fight? Whoever the UFC wants to give him, whoever Conor accepts. I think he had the right mindset going into this fight. It’s just his body failed him. I don’t know if much will change regarding what they do with him because, I mean, how many more fights is this guy going to fight anyway?”
Before suffering the injury, McGregor appeared poised to launch another championship run. A victory over Max Holloway would likely have secured a blockbuster welterweight title fight against Islam Makhachev, with UFC CEO Dana White later confirming that multiple promotional scenarios had already been discussed depending on the outcome of the main event.
Following the fight, White revealed doctors suspected McGregor had suffered a torn ACL, while McGregor admitted he struggled to understand how his body broke down after completing a healthy training camp.
Daniel Cormier isn’t convinced another McGregor comeback will happen
While Mendez remains optimistic, UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier has doubts about whether fans will ever see McGregor compete again.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Cormier admitted he now believes another comeback is becoming increasingly unlikely.
“If you ask me truthfully, I am more likely to tell you guys that it’s not gonna happen than it will happen.”
Cormier acknowledged that McGregor remains the biggest attraction in mixed martial arts and pointed to UFC 329 as proof of his enduring star power.
“He’s very unique, and I think the whole week showed that he’s the biggest star we have and the whole week showed that.”
However, he questioned whether fans would emotionally invest in another comeback after waiting more than five years for this one.
“I just wonder if he even does try to come back once again, do people even buy into it again and say they wanna see Conor McGregor go at it one more time? It really sucks as well, because the card itself was insane.”
For now, McGregor’s future remains uncertain. Whether UFC 329 proves to be the final chapter of his legendary career or merely another obstacle will likely depend on the severity of his injury and whether he decides one last comeback is worth pursuing.
What did Javier Mendez say about Conor McGregor after UFC 329?
Javier Mendez praised McGregor as a “great warrior,” saying his body failed him despite entering the fight with the right mindset after a five-year layoff.
What injury did Conor McGregor reportedly suffer at UFC 329?
Dana White revealed that doctors suspected McGregor suffered a torn ACL after his knee buckled during the opening minute of the fight.
Does Daniel Cormier think Conor McGregor will fight again?
Cormier said he now believes another McGregor comeback is less likely, while questioning whether fans would fully buy into another return after UFC 329.
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