Conor McGregor Suffers Knee Injury in Brief Return, Set for Surgery

Conor McGregor's long-awaited return to the UFC ended in disaster on July 12, 2026, when he suffered a severe knee injury just 69 seconds into his bout against Max Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas. The injury, later confirmed as a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, will require surgery Source: ABC.es. McGregor, who had not fought in five years since fracturing his leg, announced on social media: "Surgery. Rehab. Return to martial arts. Let's go! Final fight of contract" Source: Milenio.

The Injury

The injury occurred when McGregor threw a jumping switch kick, landing awkwardly on his right leg. He immediately signaled distress, and after attempting to continue, the fight was stopped. UFC President Dana White stated the diagnosis was likely an ACL tear Source: Hoy.do (AP). McGregor expressed devastation: "I'm completely destroyed. I can only describe it as hell" Source: El Confidencial.

What's Next

Despite the setback, McGregor insists he will return for the final fight of his UFC contract. His recovery timeline is unknown, but he previously suggested an April 2027 target Source: ABC.es. Meanwhile, Holloway called for a trilogy fight: "We have to do it again" Source: El Mundo. The brief bout earned McGregor an estimated $30 million (about $435,000 per second) from guarantees, PPV, and sponsorships Source: El Confidencial.