Conor McGregor plans to undergo surgery and fight at least once more.
Days after his first-round loss to Max Holloway at UFC 329, where he injured his right knee in the opening seconds on Saturday in Las Vegas, McGregor confirmed on Instagram that he will undergo surgery and return for the final fight of his UFC contract. He has not disclosed the exact diagnosis of the injury suffered in his first appearance in five years.
Surgery. Prehab. Return to martial arts practice. Go again. Final fight of the contract. Praise God!
McGregor, who turns 38 on Tuesday, has fought exclusively in the UFC since 2013. The promotion hasn’t publicly addressed his future, though CEO Dana White said after UFC 329 that he had five potential opponents in mind if McGregor had beaten Holloway.
Saturday’s knee injury adds to a lengthy list of setbacks for McGregor. He tore his ACL in 2013, ironically during his first meeting with Holloway when both fought at featherweight, suffered a partially torn ACL ahead of his 2015 interim title fight with Chad Mendes, and broke a toe that forced him out of a planned 2024 bout with Michael Chandler.
He also made clear that the loss won’t send him back to old habits.
I am in Sin City and remain completely devoid of sin. I will not open that door nor crack its seal! I am already back to collecting wins! In Jesus name I pray!
McGregor’s Last Two Outings
Before the five-year layoff, McGregor’s previous two appearances both ended in losses to Dustin Poirier. Poirier stopped him with punches in the second round at UFC 257 in January 2021, then McGregor broke his lower leg in the opening round of their UFC 264 rematch that July.
