UFC fans waited nearly five years for Conor McGregor to return to the Octagon. Now, they may have to wait at least one more.
McGregor suffered a leg injury in the first round of his fight against Max Holloway at UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night. After officially losing by TKO in a bout that lasted 69 seconds, the Irish fighter provided more on his status on Monday.
Conor McGregor provides health update
McGregor confirmed in an Instagram post that he must undergo surgery for his injury. He didn’t say what it was, but UFC president/CEO Dana White already said that doctors believe McGregor tore his ACL.
“Surgery. Prehab. Return to martial arts practice. Go again. Final fight of the contract. Please God!” wrote McGregor.
In June, McGregor revealed his contract included another fight, scheduled for April 2027. Will he still be ready to go for the next contest after undergoing surgery?
Conor McGregor faces long road in coming back to the Octagon
The exact injury remains unknown, but let’s suppose it’s an ACL tear, as White said. It typically takes an athlete nine to 12 months to recover from that surgery. McGregor’s rehabilitation could take slightly longer due to his age. He turns 38 on Tuesday.
His injury history could also play a factor. McGregor broke his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. The injury required an extensive recovery process, which kept him away from fighting.
UFC fighters are among the toughest athletes, capable of doing the seemingly impossible. Dominick Cruz, who tore his ACL three times during his career, suffered his first in May 2012. He returned to the Octagon in 2014 after undergoing two operations. He then suffered another ACL tear but came back in 2016.
Again, McGregor is aiming to return on a shorter timetable than Cruz, who was 27 when he suffered his first ACL tear. White could push the fight back to give his biggest star more time to return. Even if he does, McGregor (22-7-0) could still struggle in another matchup. He’s already out of his prime after losing four of his last five fights dating back to October 2018.
Two-time undisputed champion McGregor clearly believes he can pull off an improbable comeback. However, it’s going to be a long road back. One that might be much longer than he anticipates.
