Conor McGregor brought good news regarding the health of his knee. The Irishman returned to fight in the main event of UFC 329 after a five-year hiatus, but his return was interrupted in the opening moments due to an injury. Despite the initially worrying scenario, the former champion indicated that his recovery is progressing positively and expressed confidence in a return to the octagon.
In a post on 'X', the fighter revealed that he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus injury, the same one he faced in his first fight against Max Holloway , this time in the opposite leg.
See too
"Update: It was an ACL and meniscus tear. It's the same injury from the first fight against Holloway, only this time on the opposite leg. Quite shocking," McGregor wrote.
McGregor also recalled his previous recovery, when he managed to return to competition in less than nine months to face Diego Brandão . Given the current advances in regenerative medicine and training methods, he believes it is entirely possible to return before the North American summer, which begins on June 21, 2025.
“Back then, I returned to competition in less than 9 months to fight Diego Brandão . With the current advances in regenerative medicine and improved training methods, it’s entirely within my reach to return by next summer,” the former champion continued.
Evolution excites Conor McGregor
According to McGregor, his physical progress has been encouraging. The Irishman states that he can already walk without the aid of crutches and has performed leg extension exercises without any problems. Furthermore, he highlighted that he can activate his quadriceps under resistance, which he considers a positive sign in the rehabilitation process.
"I'm walking without crutches. I did exercises on the leg extension machine the other day without any problems. So I can walk without assistance and activate my quadriceps under resistance. Everything is very positive."
"I'm being highly disciplined and I've maintained it completely since the fight. I keep wondering if I was spared something worse here. I believe so. I would have gone to the post-fight party as 'the man' and who knows what could have happened after that. I believe I was spared," concluded Conor McGregor.
Update: It was acl and meniscus. It is the same injury as the first Holloway fight, only this time the opposite leg. Quite shocking. I returned to competition within 9 months to fight Diego Brandao back then. With today's regenerative medicine advancements and improved training… pic.twitter.com/2Me14ayIgh
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 19, 2026
Dana White downplays the chances of Conor McGregor's quick return.
Dana at the UFC press conference. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC
In an interview with MMA Fighting, Dana White explained that the Irishman will need to undergo surgery and a long recovery process before considering a new fight. According to the UFC president, McGregor's return will depend exclusively on his medical progress, as the former champion will still need to complete all stages of rehabilitation and receive authorization to return to intense training before a possible return to the UFC.
“He’s going to have knee surgery. That’s it. The discussion about Conor McGregor isn’t even worth it right now. He needs knee surgery. He’ll have to go through physical therapy. All of this will take time. And then, when the doctor says he can go back to heavy training, then we’ll start talking about Conor McGregor again,” explained the UFC president.
How did Conor McGregor get injured against Max Holloway?
Conor McGregor suffered a knee injury in the opening seconds of his fight against Max Holloway at UFC 329. Urged on by the crowd, the Irishman attempted to surprise his opponent with a flying kick as soon as referee Marc Goddard signaled the start of the fight, but he slipped on landing and felt the impact on his knee.
Despite the pain, the former UFC champion still tried to continue the fight and attempted another high kick, which was blocked by the Hawaiian. Shortly after, the referee noticed that McGregor was having difficulty walking and decided to stop the fight, awarding Holloway the victory by medical stoppage.
The kick that led to the ending 😢 😭 #UFC329
It just wasn't meant to be for Conor McGregor ... pic.twitter.com/wXEdPnH19t
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) July 12, 2026
What is an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear?
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is one of the most frequent orthopedic injuries, especially among athletes. Responsible for stabilizing the knee, the ligament prevents excessive displacement of the tibia relative to the femur and helps control the rotational movements of the joint.
In most cases, the injury occurs without direct contact, being caused by sudden movements, such as:
- Sudden changes of direction with one foot firmly on the ground;
- Rapid decelerations;
- Improper landings after jumps (as in McGregor's case);
- Hyperextension of the knee;
- At the moment of the rupture, it is common to hear a popping sound, followed by intense pain, rapid swelling, and a feeling of instability, as if the knee were giving way.
Treatment varies according to the severity and profile of the injured person: it can be conservative, with physiotherapy focused on muscle strengthening, or surgical, indicated mainly for athletes, with ligament reconstruction through grafting. Complete recovery, in surgical cases, can take between nine and twelve months.
Exclusive: Michael PQD talks about his brutal UFC debut victory.
Comments