TLDR
- Conor McGregor claims dry ice made the UFC 329 Octagon floor wet, causing his fight-ending knee injury against Max Holloway
- The 38-year-old suffered torn ACL and MCL ligaments seconds into the fight and continues demanding the result be changed to a no contest
- McGregor confirmed UFC CEO Dana White’s assessment that he will need at least 12 months to recover from the injury
- The former champion is targeting International Fight Week 2027 for his return, calling it ‘the last dance’ and suggesting it will be his final UFC fight
- McGregor has not won in the UFC since January 2020 and wants a trilogy fight with Holloway despite calls to face Michael Chandler instead
Sources: yardbarker.com | yardbarker.com | yardbarker.com
Conor McGregor is continuing to blame outside factors for his devastating knee injury at UFC 329, now claiming that dry ice made the Octagon floor wet and caused his fight-ending mishap. The 38-year-old fighter suffered a torn ACL and MCL just seconds into his highly anticipated return against Max Holloway earlier this month.
McGregor has been pushing for the UFC to change his TKO loss to a no contest since the fight ended. In a recent Instagram post, he wrote that “the dry ice has the cage floor wet it’s a no contest now chop chop for the champ champ.”
The former double champion’s injury occurred when he attempted a spinning wheel kick in the opening moments of the bout. Referee Herb Dean immediately stopped the fight after McGregor went down with the knee injury.
Fans quickly criticized McGregor after the loss, with many claiming he entered the fight with a pre-existing injury. The Irishman has denied these accusations while providing several updates on his condition.
McGregor stated that he was saved from “something much worse” despite the serious nature of his ACL and MCL tears. He has already begun his recovery process, sharing a video of himself starting rehabilitation work.
We bow to radicalisation NEVER!
We are the good guys and if it is not good what you do you are gonna meet us but never see us.
New Seal team McGregor code : behave yourself or else.
MAC ENERGY! pic.twitter.com/JiqV3TfOZX
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 28, 2026
Year-Long Recovery Timeline Confirmed
UFC CEO Dana White told reporters at a recent Zuffa Boxing press conference that McGregor would need at least 12 months to recover from the injury. The fighter himself has confirmed this timeline in his social media posts.
McGregor is expected to undergo surgery for the torn ligaments in his right leg. This marks his second consecutive leg injury inside the Octagon, following a similar incident in his 2021 bout against Dustin Poirier.
The fighter has not won inside the UFC since January 2020, when he defeated Donald Cerrone at UFC 246. He lost two straight fights to Poirier in 2021 before the failed comeback attempt against Holloway.
Planning Final Fight for 2027
McGregor has announced his target return date as International Fight Week 2027. He referred to the potential fight as “the last dance,” suggesting it could be his final appearance in the UFC.
In his Instagram post, McGregor wrote, “What was to be a generational beating is now to be reset. International Fight Week 2027, the last dance.”
The Irishman is hoping to schedule a trilogy fight with Holloway for his comeback. He has shut down calls to finally face Michael Chandler, who has been waiting for a fight with McGregor for years.
White has stated he is not willing to discuss any potential fights for McGregor at this time. The UFC boss wants to see how the recovery progresses before making any commitments.
Holloway is expected to take at least one fight before any potential rematch with McGregor. The Hawaiian fighter holds a 1-0 record against McGregor from their first meeting years ago, with the UFC 329 bout now marking a 2-0 advantage if the result stands as a TKO victory.
