Conor McGregor Discusses His Injury After UFC Return

Conor McGregor has shared the specifics of the knee injury that cut short his anticipated return to the UFC. It’s been a tough ride, and now he’s confirming what many speculated: he tore both his anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus during his bout with Max Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas on July 11.

“PS: It was ACL and meniscus,” he shared on social media. It’s interesting because he mentioned that this is the same injury he sustained during his first fight against Holloway years ago, but this time, it’s on the other leg. Kind of shocking, right?

McGregor seems optimistic despite the setback. He stated that thanks to advancements in regenerative medicine and refined training practices, he believes he could be back by next summer. He’s already walking without crutches and has even done leg extensions without any trouble. “I can walk unaided and activate my quads against resistance,” he mentioned, which sounds promising. He emphasizes that he’s remained disciplined since the fight.

He also reflected on how, perhaps, he dodged a bullet. “Could I have been saved from something worse here? I believe so. I would have attended the afterparty as ‘that person’ and at that time, no one would know. I believe I was saved. Thank you, God! Let’s pivot to the positives. I appreciate your support and wish everyone health. Health is wealth.” It’s nice to see him focus on that, amidst such challenges.

The injury happened just a few seconds into the fight when McGregor executed a jumping switch kick. Unfortunately, he landed awkwardly, which led to multiple instances of his knee giving out. The referee ultimately stopped the bout, awarding Holloway the victory by a first-round TKO.

UFC President Dana White later described the severity of McGregor’s injury, stating his “knee is going crazy.” It’s a stark reminder of the risks athletes face when competing at such high levels.

Looking back, McGregor fought Holloway in August 2013, where he claimed victory by unanimous decision. That match also saw him tear his ACL, sidelining him for almost a year. This brings to light the ups and downs McGregor has experienced, both in and out of the Octagon.

Once a megastar in the UFC, McGregor has faced a challenging period, with only one win since late 2016. The lone victory was against Donald Cerrone in January 2020, which lasted all of 40 seconds.

Since then, he’s endured two losses to Dustin Poirier, taken a long time to recover from a broken foot, missed a bout with Michael Chandler due to a broken toe, and received an 18-month suspension for not being transparent about his whereabouts for drug tests. Now, after the loss to Holloway, he’s once again facing another lengthy rehabilitation.

With a record of 1-4 in his last five fights and 3-5 over the last eight, McGregor’s journey has been rocky. His overall MMA record stands at 22 wins and 7 losses, with 19 of those victories via knockout or technical knockout.

His inactivity has been quite noticeable alongside his past accomplishments. From November 2016 to July 2026, he only competed five times, due to a slew of injuries, legal issues, and other setbacks.