Irony? Conor McGregor's knee had already been a victim of Max Holloway in the UFC; understand why.

Conor McGregor and Max Holloway embrace after UFC 329. Photo: Reproduction/X.

PUBLICITY:

Defeated in an anticlimactic manner in the main event of UFC 329 after suffering a right knee injury, Conor McGregor 's return to MMA was completely thwarted. Despite not providing concrete information about the severity of his condition, the Irishman knows he will have the opportunity for a trilogy with Max Holloway , who has shown willingness to face him again in post-fight interviews. However, if history shows anything, McGregor might want to think twice before competing with the Hawaiian again.

Although there is still no concrete information about the type of injury McGregor suffered, Dana White said in the post-event press conference that he believes it to be a rupture of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), one of the main fears of athletes in all sports.

“Being out of this sport for five years is tough. I expected, at the very least, a one-round fight, or I wanted to see what Conor would be capable of in terms of physical conditioning — or anything else — after a five-year hiatus. Well, that's what happened. We're assuming an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear. I'm not a doctor, but that's what I thought when I saw the play, and the doctors think the same thing,” said the bald man.

Max Holloway defeats Conor McGregor by TKO in Round 1 #UFC329 pic.twitter.com/52BnFWgeh2

— UFC (@ufc) July 12, 2026

McGregor suffered the same injury in his first fight with Holloway.

C. McGregor defeated M. Holloway in 2013. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

This isn't the first time The Notorious has suffered this type of injury. Back when he was a featherweight (up to 65,7 kg), he had to stay out of action for almost a year after tearing the ACL in his left knee. Ironically, this injury happened in his first fight against Max Holloway in August 2013. Despite the problem, he managed to stay in the fight and win by unanimous decision on that occasion.

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