American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez says he cannot help but feel sympathy for Conor McGregor following the knee injury that ended UFC 329 before it ever really got started, admitting that no athlete deserves to go out the way the Irishman did against Max Holloway.
Speaking on Submission Radio ahead of UFC 330, Mendez reflected on what unfolded in the octagon and made clear that whatever personal feelings he may carry about McGregor had no place in his reaction to the moment.
“To have a warrior like him train as hard as he did after a five-year layoff and come back and to have something like that happen, your heart has to go out to the guy,” Mendez said. “Look, I may not like him as a person at times, but I have to respect what a great warrior he is. And to see him go out that way is not the way I would want anyone to go out.”
Mendez pointed to video circulating online that appeared to show McGregor in visible discomfort while removing his shoe during his walkout, suggesting the knee may have already been compromised before the flying kick that worsened the situation.
“I don’t see this guy doing it for the money,” Mendez said. “I think it’s more pride, more of a warrior spirit. And I think that he was robbed of it by his body failing him.”
The veteran coach was equally generous toward Holloway, praising the featherweight legend for acknowledging what was happening rather than pressing his advantage.
“You got to give all the credit due to Max willing to step aside and go, ‘Look, man, the guy’s injured.’ He could have easily capitalized on that. He didn’t,” Mendez said. “What a warrior he was by acknowledging that he wants a fair matchup and he knows it wasn’t a fair match. So I respected that from Max immensely.”
On the question of a return, Mendez believes the mental component is the deciding factor.
“I believe Conor can come back. It just depends on if he wants to come back,” he said. “He did it after five years and he looked like he was in incredible shape. He looked very confident going into the match.”
The coach also acknowledged what the injury cost in a broader sense, with McGregor having spoken openly about pursuing a title match with Islam Makhachev across three weight divisions. That possibility now looks firmly gone.
“He deserved to either become victorious or lose to Max,” Mendez said. “That’s the way it needed to go.”
