Conor McGregor sustained a significant knee injury during his UFC 329 bout against Max Holloway on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The "Notorious" fighter landed awkwardly on his right knee after throwing a head kick, leading to his quick loss and apparent ligament tear.
UFC CEO Dana White indicated the injury is likely a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). "We're assuming it's a blown ACL," White told reporters following the event. McGregor himself posted on X after the fight, stating he entered the bout healthy and that the injury occurred unexpectedly while throwing kicks.
"My head gasket is gone. Destroyed. I had no injury / injuries going into the fight. I was throwing kicks, planted and jumping, all throughout camp as well as backstage before the fight. This came out of nowhere. I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell," McGregor wrote.
A source confirmed to The Post that McGregor was not carrying any pre-existing injuries into the fight and was fully healthy before the head kick that led to the incident. Speculation about a prior injury had circulated among fans immediately after the event. White dismissed these claims, noting that McGregor's health was apparent during pre-fight weigh-ins.
McGregor is expected to undergo an MRI exam. The 37-year-old fighter, who was hoping to compete again within nine months, now faces a potential year-long layoff if the injury is confirmed to be a torn ACL, requiring surgery. This setback comes as McGregor is on the final fight of his contract with the UFC.