Conor McGregor to undergo surgery, plans to fight again
Conor McGregor will undergo surgery after a right-knee injury in his UFC 329 loss to Max Holloway, then plans another fight to finish his UFC contract. He has not disclosed an exact diagnosis. For fans tracking UFC names from McGregor to Israel Adesanya, the news is urgent: his return lasted 69 seconds.
Key Takeaways
- McGregor injured his right knee early against Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas and lost by first-round TKO in 69 seconds.
- He announced surgery, prehab, and a return for the final fight of his UFC contract.
- An exact injury diagnosis has not been disclosed publicly.
- McGregor argued the result should be a no contest; rules generally do not allow that when a bout ends without an illegal strike.
- In a deleted post, he denied using "mind altering substances" before the fight.
What happened to Conor McGregor at UFC 329?
McGregor (22-7) was making his first appearance in five years in a welterweight main event against Max Holloway on Saturday in Las Vegas.
In the opening seconds, he appeared to hurt his right knee after a jumping kick. Movement failed quickly, and Holloway won by TKO only 69 seconds into the bout, according to ESPN.
The loss extended McGregor's skid. His last UFC win was a January 2020 TKO of Donald Cerrone. His previous Octagon exit was a lower-leg fracture against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.
Will McGregor fight again after surgery?
Yes, that is what he says. On Instagram, McGregor wrote: "Surgery. Prehab. Return to martial arts practice. Go again." He added he wants the "Final fight of the contract," framing the setback as a pause, not retirement.
ESPN noted he has not released a precise diagnosis, only the plan to operate and return. UFC CEO Dana White had said he had five ideas for McGregor's next opponent had McGregor beaten Holloway. The promotion has not publicly detailed a new timeline.
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Why does McGregor want the Holloway loss called a no contest?
After the event, McGregor posted that scan results were coming and claimed the fight "should be a no contest and all bets returned."
Yahoo Sports reported that, by rule, the bout generally cannot be flipped to a no contest because it did not end via an illegal strike. Sportsbooks treated the TKO as final for betting purposes.
Did McGregor address substance rumors after UFC 329?
Bleacher Report reported that McGregor, in a now-deleted post, denied using "mind altering substances" before the Holloway fight and said he had not used any since the knee injury that will require surgery.
He also told fans he felt he was in peak shape entering the Octagon. Separately, ESPN quoted him stressing lifestyle changes and faith after the disappointment in Las Vegas.
Bottom line for viewers: McGregor's headline return is over for now, surgery is next, and he insists one contracted fight still remains once he heals.