Conor McGregor announced Monday that he plans to undergo surgery and return to martial arts practice following an injury sustained during his UFC return at UFC 329 this past Saturday. The fighter revealed his intentions in a social media post that also stated he intends to honor the final fight on his contract.
McGregor, 37, suffered a knee injury early in his bout against Max Holloway when his right leg buckled during an attempted jumping roundhouse kick. The fight was stopped approximately 69 seconds after it began due to the injury. UFC president Dana White indicated that the organization is assuming McGregor suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
This is not the first time McGregor has dealt with an ACL injury. He also tore his ACL during his first fight against Holloway in August 2013. McGregor's return bout on Saturday was his first UFC appearance in five years. His last win was a TKO victory over Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone at UFC 246 in January 2020.
Despite the setback, McGregor's post expressed a hopeful outlook, referencing his faith and permanent lifestyle changes. He also dismissed theories that the injury occurred before the fight. The bout marked McGregor's return to the octagon after suffering a severe leg break five years prior in a match against Dustin Poirier. The UFC 329 event was reportedly a significant betting event, described as the "most bet MMA event in BetMGM history."
White was noncommittal regarding a potential return date for McGregor, stating that "there's a lot of unanswered questions right now."