Conor McGregor’s worst fears were confirmed just a week ago. After his long-awaited return at UFC 329 ended in heartbreak with a devastating right knee injury just 69 seconds into his fight against Max Holloway, many fans initially hoped the damage was limited to a torn meniscus.
The Irishman soon put those hopes to rest, taking to social media to reveal that he had torn both his ACL and meniscus. He also disclosed that the injury eerily mirrors the one he suffered during his first meeting with Holloway in 2013, only this time, it is the opposite knee.
He wrote, “Update: It was ACL and meniscus. It is the same injury as the first Holloway fight, only this time, the opposite leg. Quite shocking. I returned to competition within 9 months to fight Diego Brandao back then. With today’s regenerative medicine advancements and improved training methods, it is well within my realm to return by next summer.”
Now, UFC CEO Dana White has offered a clearer timeline for McGregor’s return. Speaking during the Zuffa Boxing 9 post-fight press conference, White appeared visibly frustrated when asked about videos circulating online of McGregor doing leg exercises despite the severity of his injury.
When asked when fans could expect McGregor back inside the Octagon, White replied, “We had (McGregor) on FaceTime tonight ringside. But Conor McGregor’s out for a year.”
🚨 Dana White says Conor McGregor will be out for a year following the knee injury pic.twitter.com/Pv4ow0qJI7
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 27, 2026
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While McGregor’s injury remained a major talking point, Zuffa Boxing 9 proved to be a successful night for White. Edgar Berlanga and Richardson Hitchins both delivered impressive hometown victories in New York City, while the event drew a star-studded crowd that included Islam Makhachev, Nico Ali Walsh, and several other notable names.
For the unversed, McGregor is currently recovering in California and has already made it clear that he intends to fulfill the final fight remaining on his current UFC contract. The former two-division champion first suffered an ACL and meniscus tear against Holloway in 2013, injuring his left knee.
That setback required surgery and sidelined him for nearly 11 months before he returned to defeat Diego Brandao. Based on that recovery timeline, a comeback next summer is certainly within the realm of possibility.
This recovery, however, presents a far greater challenge. McGregor successfully returned from his first ACL and meniscus reconstruction at just 25 years old. Now, at 38 and after years of competing at the highest level of the sport, recovering from another major knee reconstruction is likely to be a much tougher test.
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