Conor McGregor has announced his intention to return to the UFC cage by next summer after revealing the full extent of the injury he suffered in his comeback fight against Max Holloway. The Irishman tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and damaged his meniscus during the bout, which lasted only 69 seconds.
McGregor Details Injury and Recovery Timeline
McGregor, who had been out of action for five years prior to the fight, injured his knee while throwing the first kick of the contest. The fight was stopped immediately, resulting in a TKO loss for McGregor. In a social media post, he confirmed the diagnosis: "It was the ACL and meniscus. It is the same injury as the first Holloway fight, only this time the opposite leg. Quite shocking."
Despite the severity of the injury, McGregor expressed optimism about his recovery. He noted that he returned to competition within nine months after a similar injury in 2014 to fight Diego Brandao. "With today’s regenerative medicine advancements and improved training methods it is well within my realm to return by next summer," he wrote.
Positive Signs in Recovery
McGregor provided an update on his current condition, stating he is walking without a crutch and has already performed leg extension machine work without issue. "I can walk without aid, and activate my quad under resistance. All very positive," he said. He also reflected on the potential silver lining of the injury, suggesting it may have prevented worse outcomes. "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."
The loss to Holloway marked a disappointing return for McGregor, who had not fought since July 2021. The fight was stopped just over a minute in, handing Holloway a TKO victory. McGregor has since demanded that the result be changed, but the official outcome remains a TKO loss.
