UFC president Dana White confirmed it: Conor McGregor suffered an ACL injury during his loss to Max Holloway at UFC 329. White didn’t pull any punches, telling reporters following Saturday’s UFC Fight Night event, “His knee’s f–ked up.” Talk about a gut punch. This is the kind of news that stops you cold, especially after watching that main event unfold.
How It Went Down at UFC 329
Fans were immediately fearing the worst as the UFC 329 main event started. McGregor tried a flying kick right from the opening bell, and man, he landed so awkwardly. You could see it, he had limited stability on his right knee, and the referee eventually had to call for the bell. It was brutal to watch, seeing a fighter of his caliber go down like that. McGregor had even posted on social media that he was physically ready to compete in his comeback fight and wasn’t carrying an injury into the contest. Turns out, something went wrong right there in the Octagon.
The Long Road Back, If There Even Is One
Now, McGregor has said he’s set for surgery and plans to fight at least one more time for the UFC. Dana White, in an interview with TMZ Sports, didn’t completely rule out that idea. But let’s be real, White was brutally honest about what it’ll take. “McGregor has to have knee surgery,” White said. “Then he’s gonna have to go through physical therapy and a doctor’s gonna have to give him a sign-off on when he can start training hard again.” This isn’t just about a physical recovery. White added, “He’s got a lot of things to figure out in his head, in his life, before he starts thinking about boxing or UFC again.” He even said, “It’s gonna be a long comeback for him if he decides that’s what he wants to do. He’s got a lot of soul-searching to do, find that fire that he used to have, and we’ll see how that plays out.” That’s a huge statement from the boss.
UFC’s Tough Call and an Uncertain Future
The UFC has its own factors to consider here, too. McGregor’s lost four of his last five fights, and those last two outings? Both ended abruptly because of injuries. He’s 38 now, and while he’s still a massive star, the UFC needs to be confident he can actually deliver in the Octagon if they’re going to book him again. It’s too early to tell if he’ll ever get back to where he needs to be physically. This isn’t just a recovery, it’s a massive question mark hanging over one of the biggest names in the sport.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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