Conor McGregor provides health update after knee surgery on injury sustained at UFC 329

Conor McGregor has successfully undergone surgery less than four weeks since his disastrous return at UFC 329.

McGregor injured himself just seconds into his main event showdown against Max Holloway after missing with a roundhouse kick in the first exchange.

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The Irishman attempted to carry on fighting but continued to slip on his hurt leg and the fight was waved off after 69 seconds.

McGregor later revealed he had ACL and meniscus damage in his right knee and confirmed earlier this week he was heading into ‘surgery number five’ of his career.

He has suffered other leg injuries in the UFC, including in a trilogy with Dustin Poirier in 2021 and the first time he fought Holloway in 2013.

“All things considered, that is an okay number,” McGregor said.

The 38-year-old has since taken to social media to confirm he has made it through surgery.

“Surgery went excellent. I am confident,” McGregor wrote on Instagram.

He has already set his sights on returning to action at the UFC’s International Fight Week in 2027 for one last dance.

McGregor has just one fight left on his UFC contract and envisions his farewell fight being a trilogy against Holloway.

That will, of course, depend on McGregor’s recovery and how long it takes for him to get cleared again.

UFC CEO Dana White was asked about the timeline for McGregor coming back again during a conversation with TMZ Sports in July.

‘A lot of soul-searching to do’

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“McGregor’s got a lot of things to figure out in his head, in his life, before he starts thinking about boxing or UFC again,” White 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.”

White then confirmed later last month that McGregor was ‘out for a year.’

McGregor has previously highlighted how he managed to return after nine months when he tore his ACL in his first meeting with Holloway.

He has also expressed his desire to see out his current UFC deal many times, with potential future fights in boxing or bare-knuckle boxing under his BKFC banner on the horizon.

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“It is the same injury as the first Holloway fight, only this time the opposite leg. Quite shocking,” McGregor wrote on social media in July.

“I returned to competition within nine 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.

“I am walking without a crutch. I did leg extension machine work the other day with no issue.

“So I can walk without aid, and activate my quad under resistance. All very positive.”

Holloway, too, has already said he wants to run it back with McGregor for a trilogy next year. For now, McGregor is yet again on another long road to recovery.

UFC Schedule

There are still several blockbuster shows and exciting contests for fight fans to look forward to in 2026, and you can find the full list of all confirmed events and official bouts as part of talkSPORT.com’s UFC schedule.

The UFC, on average, puts on 13 to 14 premium events in a calendar year, with up to 30 smaller ‘Fight Night’ cards allowing prospects and less experienced fighters to showcase their talents.

On January 1, 2026, Dana White’s promotion signed a seven-year broadcast deal with CBS and Paramount+ for exclusive rights in the US, meaning the UFC has put on shows like never before this year.

With the historic first event in the new Paramount era, UFC 324, delivering huge success, and a one-of-a-kind fight card at the White House in June opening up the UFC to a new audience, the promotion remains a premium global sports brand, and fans are eager to keep track of results and upcoming fights.