Conor McGregor has vowed to return to the UFC following a disastrous comeback fight that ended with a knee injury in the opening seconds. The Irishman made his long-awaited return to the octagon at UFC 392 on Saturday night, facing rival Max Holloway.
After a five-year absence from the sport, McGregor's return was cut short approximately 69 seconds into the bout. He appeared to sustain a knee injury while attempting a kick in the fight's early moments. Despite attempting to continue, it became clear he was in significant discomfort, and the referee stopped the fight.
McGregor addressed the injury in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, describing the feeling as being in "hell" and stating the injury "came out of nowhere." He refuted speculation that he might have been carrying a pre-existing injury, asserting he was "sharp and so ready" for the fight. He also shared a video on Instagram on Tuesday, his 38th birthday, expressing his determination to return.
"We'll be back!" McGregor stated in the video, which concluded with him raising a glass with his wife, Dee Devlin. The caption read: "Thank you for all the birthday messages everyone! I am 38 years of age today! 38, no hate! Just love."
Fellow UFC fighter Jon Jones sent well wishes, commenting, "This too shall pass, you can’t keep a good man down. Head high champ, happy birthday."
The fight, McGregor's first in five years, saw him engage Holloway aggressively early on. However, a slip on his standing foot appeared to be the moment the injury occurred, leaving him vulnerable to Holloway's subsequent attack. Holloway gained control on the ground, delivering punches before the referee ultimately halted the contest due to McGregor's visible struggle with his leg.
This outcome echoes McGregor's last appearance in July 2021, which also ended due to a severe injury against Dustin Poirier.