Former two-weight UFC world champion Conor McGregor has confirmed the medical details of the knee injury on his Instagram that abruptly ended his return to the octagon. The 38-year-old Irishman revealed that he sustained severe ligament damage during his bout against American Max Holloway in Las Vegas on July 11. The contest lasted just 69 seconds before the structural failure of his knee forced an immediate stoppage.
Conor McGregor Injury Update:
Medical evaluations confirmed that McGregor suffered a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) and a torn meniscus. The injury occurred early in the opening round when McGregor attempted a jump kick and landed awkwardly on the canvas.
While he attempted to fight through the discomfort for a few moments, the instability of the joint forced him to look at the referee and signal that he could no longer defend himself. McGregor noted that this is the exact same double injury he suffered during his first encounter with Holloway in 2013, with the only difference being that this injury affected the opposite leg.
“It was ACL and meniscus. It is the same injury as the first Holloway fight, only this time the opposite leg. Quite shocking,” McGregor wrote on social media on Sunday.
McGregor’s Current RecoveryÂ
Despite the serious nature of a combined ACL and meniscus tear, McGregor shared a relatively positive update regarding his early physical state. He is currently preparing to undergo corrective surgery to repair the torn tissues.
“I am walking without a crutch. I did leg extension machine work the other day to no issue. So I can walk without aid, and activate my quad under resistance. All very positive.”
In the days following the fight, McGregor has already started basic rehabilitation movements to prevent muscle atrophy.
When does Conor McGregor plan to return to the UFC?
McGregor has set his sights on a return to the UFC by the summer of 2027. Given the standard nine-to-twelve-month rehabilitation timeline required for ACL reconstruction, alongside his age, the target allows for a conservative and thorough recovery period.
“With today’s regenerative medicine advancements and improved training methods it is well within my realm to return by next summer,” McGregor said.
