Conor McGregor Suffers Injury at UFC 329

LAS VEGAS — Things took a turn for the worse for Conor McGregor during UFC 329. It was unexpected, to say the least.

In a surprising moment, McGregor executed a head kick aimed at Max Holloway that never quite connected. Unfortunately, he landed awkwardly on his right knee and fell, leading to what appeared to be a torn ligament.

Reports suggest that, prior to the head kick, McGregor was healthy and ready for the fight. In fact, he had been practicing those kicks all week as he geared up to face Holloway.

Dana White hinted at the seriousness of McGregor’s situation, stating, “My guess is it’s an ACL tear,” during a media briefing after the fight.

McGregor later shared on X, saying he felt fine leading up to the fight. “The head gasket is gone. It’s destroyed. There were no injuries during the fight. This just happened out of nowhere. It feels like hell right now.”

Speculation quickly arose about whether the injury was pre-existing. Fans voiced their frustration with booing, possibly feeling misled about his comeback. However, White reassured reporters that he believed McGregor had no prior injuries. “The ceremonial weigh-in video has garnered over 80 million views. Surely someone would have caught that,” he remarked.

When asked if the injury occurred after the ceremonial weigh-in, it seems that was not the case. McGregor’s knee simply twisted awkwardly, and there are concerns he might need surgery if the worst-case scenario—an ACL tear—turns out to be true.

He’s set to undergo an MRI in the next few hours. The 37-year-old had hoped to return to the ring within nine months, but another year off might be on the horizon. This fight was supposed to be the last in his contract before he becomes a free agent.