It seems Conor McGregor may not be done after all. The former two-division UFC champion’s long-awaited comeback at UFC 329 ended in heartbreaking fashion after just 69 seconds, when a catastrophic right knee injury forced a stoppage and handed Max Holloway a first-round TKO victory.
McGregor burst out of the gate with an explosive jumping roundhouse kick, but slow-motion replays appeared to show him landing awkwardly before his right knee buckled beneath him. In the aftermath, speculation quickly spread throughout the MMA world that McGregor had entered the fight carrying a pre-existing injury and concealed it to ensure his long-awaited return went ahead.
The Irishman swiftly dismissed those claims, insisting he was fully healthy heading into UFC 329. However, he admitted he was mentally in “a dark place,” describing the emotional aftermath of the injury as “hell.”
Since then, McGregor has confirmed that he is scheduled to undergo knee surgery followed by rehabilitation, while reaffirming his intention to fulfill the final fight remaining on his current UFC contract. At the same time, ‘The Notorious’ has continued to lean on his faith, openly embracing his religious side during the difficult period.
That theme continued on his 38th birthday, when McGregor addressed fans for the first time on video since the injury. Taking to Instagram on Tuesday to promote his MAC Energy drink, McGregor shared a birthday post alongside his wife, Dee Devlin.
In the caption, he thanked fans for their birthday wishes, writing, “Thank you for all the birthday messages everyone! I am 38 years of age today! 38, no hate! Just love!” In the accompanying video, McGregor delivered a brief but optimistic message. “We’ll be back.”
He then made the sign of the cross before saying, “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen, let’s go.”
McGregor had already spoken about his determination to return in posts on social media, but this marked his first appearance on camera since suffering the injury. He appeared to be in good spirits and relatively healthy despite the setback. While McGregor has confirmed he is set to undergo surgery, the exact nature and severity of the knee injury have not yet been disclosed.
The best-case scenario for the Irishman would be a meniscus injury, which could keep him on course for the April 2027 comeback timeline he has previously mentioned. However, if he has suffered a second ACL tear, a recovery period of at least a year would be the more realistic expectation before he can compete again inside the Octagon.
Cruelly, career-altering injuries have now defined the endings of McGregor’s last two UFC appearances. At UFC 264 in July 2021, he suffered a gruesome broken left leg against Dustin Poirier, an injury that kept him out of competition for nearly five years.
Ironically, this is not the first time McGregor has injured his ACL against Holloway. During their first meeting in August 2013, he tore his ACL early in the fight but battled through the pain to earn a unanimous decision victory. This time, however, the damage proved far more severe, leaving him unable to continue just 69 seconds into the rematch.
Now 38 years old and facing yet another lengthy rehabilitation, McGregor’s path back to the Octagon is once again uncertain. Even so, his latest public message made one thing clear: he still believes his fighting story isn’t over.
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