Conor McGregor confirmed this Sunday that he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus during his long-awaited return to the octagon at UFC 329, an injury that will force him to undergo surgery again and will delay his return to mixed martial arts.
The Irishman, former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion, returned to compete on July 11 after a five-year absence, but his fight against Max Holloway ended just 1:09 minutes into the first round when a knee injury forced the referee to stop the fight.
“It was the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus. It’s the same injury I suffered in the first fight against Holloway, but this time on the other leg. Quite shocking,” McGregor wrote on his social networks.
He hopes to return in the summer of 2027
The president of the UFC, Dana White, had already announced that McGregor suffered a serious knee injury and assured that he will have to undergo surgery before starting a long rehabilitation process.
Despite the diagnosis, the Irishman was optimistic and assured that he hopes to return to the octagon by the summer of 2027, recalling that in 2013 he managed to return just nine months after suffering a similar injury.
“With current advances in regenerative medicine and new training methods, I think it is entirely possible to return next summer,” he said.
McGregor also revealed that he can now walk without crutches and has begun strengthening exercises to regain mobility in his leg.
Dana White asks for patience
White, however, avoided talking about the sporting future of one of the biggest stars in the history of the organization.
“There is no point in talking about Conor McGregor now. First he must have surgery, complete all the rehabilitation and, when the doctors clear him to return to intense training, then we will talk about his return,” said the UFC president.
A return that ended in frustration
The loss to Holloway marked McGregor’s return after almost five years without fighting and since the serious leg fracture he suffered against Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
The 38-year-old veteran is also going through the most complicated moment of his sports career. He has accumulated three consecutive losses and has not achieved a victory since January 2020, when he knocked out Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in just 40 seconds.
Despite the new setback, McGregor assured that he still intends to fight the last fight remaining in his contract with the UFC before ending his career.
