Conor McGregor has indicated he may be planning his "last dance" in the UFC, following a knee injury that ended his comeback fight at UFC 329. The fight, McGregor's first after a five-year hiatus, was stopped after just 1 minute and 9 seconds due to an awkward landing from a jump kick. The injury to his right knee was severe enough that the referee determined he could not continue.
McGregor is facing several months of recovery and will require surgery to repair a torn ACL and meniscus. However, he posted on social media Monday, hinting at a potential return during next July's International Fight Week, with the caption "IFW 2027 The Last Dance." IFW is generally understood to refer to International Fight Week.
The "last dance" comment is believed to refer to the final fight of his current contract with the UFC. While he has not ruled out signing a new deal, the phrase suggests a potential conclusion to his tenure with the promotion. UFC CEO Dana White previously stated that he expected McGregor to be sidelined for approximately one year, according to reports from a recent press conference.
It remains uncertain who McGregor's next opponent would be. A rematch with Max Holloway, with whom McGregor's record is currently tied 1-1, has been suggested as a possibility.