Coach Javier Mendez expresses sympathy for injured Conor McGregor
American Kickboxing Academy founder Javier Mendez has admitted feeling sorry for Conor McGregor following his devastating knee injury at UFC 329, while simultaneously preparing Islam Makhachev for a looming title defence at UFC 330.
The legendary Irishman suffered a torn ACL and meniscus with the first kick he threw against Max Holloway earlier this month.
That bout was abruptly halted after just over a minute of the opening round, curtailing the 36-year-old’s return from a five-year hiatus.
McGregor has since undergone surgery and is targeting a comeback in the summer of 2027.
Overcoming new mental hurdles
By the time of his proposed return, the former two-weight simultaneous world champion will be approaching his 39th birthday.
Mendez believes the road back to the octagon will now be significantly more challenging for the Dublin-born superstar.
“There’s no secret that I’m not a big fan of his, but I’m a big fan of any fighter that trains hard and is able to go out there and showcase what they trained hard doing.”
The veteran coach stated he took no pleasure in watching the former featherweight and lightweight titleholder suffer such a severe physical breakdown.
“I felt bad for the guy because he deserved to go out on a win or die with his best effort out there, not like this.”
Mendez compared the fighter’s recent trajectory to the movie Rocky, suggesting that returning to rigorous, gruelling training after enjoying a wealthy lifestyle is an incredibly arduous task.
“It was the same scenario, but he wasn’t successful because his body failed him.”
Makhachev prepares for Garry challenge
Mendez is currently focused on his duties as head coach for reigning welterweight champion Makhachev.
The Dagestani titleholder is scheduled to defend his championship against Irish challenger Ian Machado Garry in the main event on 15 August.
Many MMA pundits have characterised the upcoming UFC 330 showcase as a classic clash between a grappler and a striker.
However, the esteemed trainer insists his camp is waiting to see how the contest unfolds before committing to a rigid tactical approach.
“Ian Garry’s biggest advantage is his range.”
He acknowledged the contender’s ability to effectively utilise kicks alongside robust scrambling and takedown defence.
“Islam is well-rounded, so he is able to adapt to anything.”