TLDR
- Conor McGregor suffered a knee injury 69 seconds into his UFC 329 comeback fight against Max Holloway
- Dustin Poirier criticized McGregor’s decision to open with a jumping kick and questioned his bloated appearance
- Poirier suggested McGregor’s lifestyle choices made him more susceptible to injuries and predicted a long recovery
- Despite harsh criticism, Poirier defended McGregor against theories he quit or entered the fight already injured
- Poirier offered to come out of retirement for a fourth fight with McGregor at welterweight once he recovers
Sources: yardbarker.com | yardbarker.com
Dustin Poirier watched Conor McGregor’s UFC 329 return and came away with serious concerns about the Irish fighter’s health and future in the sport. McGregor’s comeback ended just 69 seconds into his welterweight fight against Max Holloway when he suffered a knee injury that resulted in a TKO loss.
Poirier did not hold back when discussing the injury on the “Deep Waters” podcast. “I thought it couldn’t have happened to a better guy,” Poirier said.
The injury occurred when McGregor opened the fight with a jumping kick, a decision that Poirier questioned heavily. “I don’t know why you would start a fight like that,” Poirier said on the podcast. “It’s like a Hail Mary, you’re throwing a Hail Mary to start a 25-minute fight.”
UFC footage later showed McGregor practicing the same kick during his pre-fight warm-up, with no visible signs of injury before the bout. Poirier suggested the risky move came from nerves and adrenaline after a five-year absence from competition.
Concerns About McGregor’s Physical Condition
Poirier went beyond criticism of the strategy and offered a detailed assessment of McGregor’s appearance at UFC 329. He focused specifically on what he saw in McGregor’s face rather than his body.
“Definitely he looked bloated. I thought his face looked a little shiny. Under his eyes looked a little full. His cheeks looked full,” Poirier said. He added that he doesn’t believe 15 pounds of weight difference would cause that level of bloating.
Dustin Poirier believes Conor McGregor never looked for a way out in his comeback fight. While he says McGregor could have blamed his leg and created an excuse after the injury, Poirier insists he's known him long enough to believe that's not in his character.
"If he wanted a… pic.twitter.com/Rrvzr6wEcw
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) July 13, 2026
Poirier connected the appearance to lifestyle choices. “It could be because he’s living an unhealthy lifestyle,” he said. “When you don’t live the healthiest lifestyle, your body’s more susceptible to injuries.”
McGregor himself acknowledged before UFC 329 that alcohol had become a problem during his years away from fighting. He launched Proper No. Twelve whiskey during his time off, which he said surrounded him with alcohol when he wasn’t competing.
Poirier also referenced McGregor’s age as a factor in the injury. “He’s not 25 anymore,” Poirier stated, noting that the 37-year-old fighter’s body cannot handle the same punishment it once could.
Regarding the recovery timeline, Poirier predicted a long road ahead. “If it’s an ACL tear? That’s another year,” he explained. “The guy is done. He’s done if he has a torn ACL.”
Poirier Defends McGregor Against Conspiracy Theories
Despite his harsh words, Poirier rejected theories that McGregor quit or entered the fight already injured. Speaking on “THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas,” Poirier addressed these rumors directly.
“If he knew he was injured… wouldn’t you do it with punches?” Poirier asked. “Why would you do it with an injured weapon?”
Poirier acknowledged his complicated history with McGregor but defended his competitive spirit. “I say a lot of bad stuff about him, but a quitter? I’m not sure,” Poirier said. “He’s a real competitor and wants to win one hundred percent.”
The two fighters have met three times in the octagon, with their last fight in July 2021 ending when McGregor broke his leg. That injury started the five-year absence that ended at UFC 329.
Poirier also responded to McGregor’s recent comments about karma, which McGregor made after Poirier’s arrest for public drunkenness. “I saw earlier this week he said karma is a mirror and it definitely is, man,” Poirier said. “This guy’s a dirt bag.”
Israel Adesanya Questions If Conor McGregor Was Already Injured Before UFC 329
Despite announcing his retirement from the sport, Poirier left the door open for a fourth fight. “I tell you what, whenever he is healed up, hit me up, Conor,” Poirier said on “Deep Waters.” “I’ll come back and whoop you again.”
When asked to confirm his promise, Poirier committed to the weight class. “I’ll come back and whoop him again at 170,” he said, referring to the welterweight division.
