TLDR
- Dana White confirmed Conor McGregor will be out for approximately one year following a knee injury at UFC 329
- McGregor tore his ACL and meniscus just 69 seconds into his fight with Max Holloway on July 11
- The injury occurred on the opposite leg from his previous ACL tear 13 years ago against the same opponent
- McGregor is already walking without crutches and doing leg exercises, targeting a summer 2027 return
- The 38-year-old has not won a fight since January 2020 and was making his first appearance in five years
Sources: sports.yahoo.com | mmafighting.com
UFC President Dana White has confirmed that Conor McGregor will be out of action for approximately one year following a serious knee injury sustained at UFC 329.
The 38-year-old fighter injured his knee just seconds into his main event bout against Max Holloway on July 11 in Las Vegas. McGregor threw his first kick of the fight and immediately fell to the mat multiple times before signaling to the referee that he could not continue.
The fight lasted just 69 seconds before being stopped. It was McGregor’s first appearance in the octagon in five years, since he broke his leg in a loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
Same Injury, Different Leg
Medical tests revealed that McGregor tore his ACL and meniscus. The injury is the same one he suffered 13 years ago in his first fight against Holloway, but this time on the opposite leg.
Some fans speculated that McGregor entered the fight with a pre-existing injury or hurt himself during his ring walk. Both McGregor and White dismissed these claims.
Dana White just confirmed Conor McGregor will be out for a year pic.twitter.com/2a6BBWgGss
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) July 27, 2026
Recently, McGregor posted videos on social media showing himself doing leg exercises on weight machines. When asked about these videos at a press conference Sunday, White responded: “I have no idea. We had him on FaceTime tonight, ringside, but you know, Conor McGregor’s out for a year.”
McGregor has not yet undergone surgery on the injury but confirmed he will have the procedure done.
Fighter Remains Optimistic About Return
Despite the serious setback, McGregor expressed optimism about his recovery timeline. In a social media post one week after UFC 329, he wrote that he is already walking without crutches and performing leg extension exercises.
“With today’s regenerative medicine advancements and improved training methods it is well within my realm to return by next summer,” McGregor stated. He noted that after his first ACL tear in 2013, he returned to competition within nine months to fight Diego Brandao.
The Irish fighter has maintained strict discipline during his recovery. “I am maximum discipline and have maintained it fully since the bout,” he wrote.
McGregor thanked fans for their support and wrote: “Thank you God! On we go, no sad stories. Thank you for the support and well wishes everyone, your health is your wealth.”
The loss to Holloway extended McGregor’s losing streak. He has not won a fight since January 2020 and has repeatedly stated his goal is to fight out the final bout on his UFC contract.
White’s confirmation of the year-long absence means McGregor will likely not return to the octagon until July 2027 at the earliest.
