Conor McGregor has finally revealed the full extent of the knee injury that abruptly ended his long-awaited UFC comeback.
McGregor said what many initially feared, confirming he tore both his ACL and meniscus during his loss to Max Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas on July 11.
“Update: It was acl and meniscus,” wrote the former two-division UFC Champion on X.
“It is the same injury as the first Holloway fight, only this time the opposite leg. Quite shocking,” he added, referencing his initial bout with Holloway 13 years ago.
McGregor continued, “With today’s regenerative medicine advancements and improved training methods it is well within my realm to return by next summer. I am walking without a crutch. I done leg extension machine work the other day to no issue. So I can walk without aid, and activate my quad under resistance. All very positive. I am maximum discipline and have maintained it fully since the bout.
“I wonder was I saved from something worse here. I believe so. I would have attended the after party as ‘the man’ and who knows then. I believe I was saved. Thank you God! On we go, no sad stories. Thank you for the support and well wishes everyone, your health is your wealth.”
The injury occurred just seconds into McGregor’s first fight in five years, where he unleashed a jumping switch kick almost immediately, blowing out his right knee in the process.
McGregor landed awkwardly on his right leg, and although he briefly attempted to continue, his knee buckled multiple times before referee Mike Beltran waved off the contest, awarding Holloway a first-round TKO victory.
UFC CEO Dana White later confirmed the severity of the injury, saying bluntly that McGregor’s “knee is f–ked up.”
In August of 2013, McGregor defeated a then-21-year-old Holloway by unanimous decision, but he also tore his ACL during that fight, sidelining him for nearly a year.
This has also continued what has become a dramatic decline for the troubled once UFC megastar inside and outside the octagon.
McGregor, the biggest draw in UFC history, has won just one fight since November 2016.
That lone victory came against Donald Cerrone in January 2020 and lasted only 40 seconds.
Since then, he has suffered two losses to Dustin Poirier, missed years recovering from a broken leg, withdrew from a scheduled bout against Michael Chandler with a broken toe, served an 18-month suspension from the UFC after failing to disclose his whereabouts for drug testing, and now finds himself facing another lengthy rehab process following the Holloway defeat.
McGregor is just 1-4 in his last five fights and 3-5 in his last eight.
In his MMA record, he’s down to 22-7 with 19 wins by knockout or technical knockout.
His inactivity has become almost as notable as his accomplishments in recent years.
Between November 2016 and July 2026, McGregor competed just five times, with injuries, allegedly use of banned drugs, and legal troubles largely preventing him from maintaining any momentum.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
