TLDR
- Conor McGregor underwent surgery Monday for torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee
- The injury occurred 69 seconds into his comeback fight against Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11
- This marks McGregor’s fifth career surgery and his first fight in five years
- McGregor expects a nine-month recovery and plans to return during UFC International Fight Week in summer 2027
- He has lost four of his past five fights and has one bout remaining on his UFC contract
Sources: bleacherreport.com | usatoday.com
UFC star Conor McGregor announced Monday he underwent surgery after tearing his ACL and meniscus during his first-round loss to Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11. The 38-year-old fighter shared the news on Instagram before heading into the operating room.
“What’s up folks, it’s the Mac,” McGregor said in a video posted to his Instagram account. “Off to get surgery today. So wish me well.”
In the video, McGregor held a Louis Vuitton bag and grabbed one of his own Mac Energy drinks before the procedure. He wrote in the caption that this marks “Surgery number 5 of my career coming up!”
The injury happened just 69 seconds into McGregor’s highly anticipated return to the Octagon after a five-year absence. McGregor opened the fight with a flying kick and landed awkwardly on his right leg.
He fell two more times before reaching for his knee in pain. The referee stopped the fight at the 1:09 mark when it became clear McGregor had suffered a serious injury.
🚨 Conor McGregor announced he’s getting knee surgery today
“Surgery number 5 of my career coming up.”
(via @TheNotoriousMMA) pic.twitter.com/OqN5VkV7RH
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) August 3, 2026
McGregor Eyes Summer 2027 Return
Despite the setback, McGregor has already mapped out his comeback plan. The former featherweight and lightweight champion said he expects to be sidelined for nine months due to the torn ACL.
“With today’s regenerative medicine advancements and improved training methods it is well within my realm to return by next summer,” McGregor said. He has set his sights on completing a trilogy with Holloway during UFC’s International Fight Week in 2027.
McGregor has one fight remaining on his UFC contract. Any timeline for his return depends on his recovery from surgery and clearance from doctors.
UFC president Dana White expressed caution when asked about McGregor’s future by TMZ Sports. “McGregor has to have knee surgery. Then he’s gonna have to go through physical therapy and a doctor’s gonna have to give him a sign-off on when he can start training hard again,” White said.
White added that McGregor “has a lot of things to figure out in his head, in his life” before thinking about his next fight. “It’s gonna be a long comeback for him if he decides that’s what he wants to do,” the UFC president said.
String of Losses and Injuries
The UFC 329 injury extends McGregor’s recent struggles inside the cage. He has fought just five times since beating Eddie Alvarez in 2016, losing four of those bouts.
McGregor’s five-year hiatus began after he suffered a broken leg in the first round of his 2021 fight against Dustin Poirier. That injury required surgery and extensive rehabilitation.
The Irish fighter has battled multiple injuries throughout his career and appeared to have lost a step during his brief appearance at UFC 329. White suggested McGregor needs to “find that fire that he used to have” if he wants to compete again.
McGregor’s status as one of UFC’s biggest draws remains intact despite his recent struggles. However, the promotion may have concerns about booking him for major shows given his injury history and limited fight activity over the past eight years.
White confirmed McGregor will likely be out for a year as he recovers from the ACL and meniscus surgery. The fighter remains optimistic about returning to action by summer 2027.
