Conor McGregor's massive comeback at UFC 329 lasted just 69 seconds before a knee injury took him out against Max Holloway, crashing his five-year wait for an Octagon return. The main event was a total bust for everyone watching, but for former rival Dustin Poirier, it was exactly what McGregor deserved.
Poirier Drops the Hammer: "Couldn't Happen to a Better Guy"
Poirier didn't hold back one bit, speaking on Monday's episode of "Deep Waters" about McGregor's devastating injury. "I thought it couldn't have happened to a better guy," Poirier flat out said. "That injury couldn't have happened to a better guy." He pointed straight to McGregor's own words from earlier in the week: "karma is a mirror," and according to Poirier, it absolutely is. He called McGregor a "dirtbag" and couldn't wrap his head around McGregor's fight strategy. Poirier was baffled by the jump kick McGregor opened with, questioning if it was nervous energy or something planned. There's even footage showing McGregor training to open fights like that, but Poirier called it a "Hail Mary" move to kick off a 25-minute fight. "I don't understand what was going on with that," he vented. Poirier believes McGregor is done if this is a torn ACL. He's 37 now, not 25, and hasn't fought in five years. "If it's an ACL tear? That's another year. The guy is done. He's done if he has a torn ACL."Is This Really the End? Weidman and Thomas Weigh In
Not everyone is ready to write McGregor off completely. Chris Weidman pushed back on Poirier's take that fans will never see McGregor in the Octagon again, though he admitted that the unique mystique surrounding McGregor is probably gone for good. "He's done, he's not going to be the same," Weidman stated. "I do think he comes back. He's got one fight left on his contract. I don't think it's going to be the same. I don't think the excitement and the expectations are going to be the same ever again." Din Thomas went even further, suggesting McGregor might not have even wanted to fight at all. He referenced McGregor's first fight with Holloway back in 2013, when McGregor also tore his ACL but kept fighting to earn a dominant decision. Thomas believes the contrast between then and now is stark. "I don't think he wanted to fight, man," Thomas said. He added that McGregor might be "playing on this sympathy card from some people." McGregor's future in the Octagon looks murkier than ever, especially if that ACL tear is confirmed. Whether he steps back in for that final contract fight or not, the "Notorious" legend we once knew might just be gone for good. Everyone's watching to see if this is truly the final chapter.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.