McGregor to have surgery, targets final UFC fight
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- Conor McGregor will undergo surgery on a right knee injury suffered in the opening seconds of his first-round loss to Max Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas on Saturday.
- McGregor (22-7) announced on Instagram he plans to return for the final fight of his UFC contract, writing: 'Surgery. Prehab. Return to martial arts practice. Go again. Final fight of the contract. Praise God!'
- The UFC has not publicly commented on McGregor's status, though CEO Dana White said he had five potential opponents lined up had McGregor defeated Holloway.
- McGregor, who turns 38 the day after the bout, was making his first appearance in five years following a broken left leg in his 2021 first-round loss to Dustin Poirier.
- McGregor's injury history stretches back over a decade: a torn ACL in 2013 (during his first fight against Holloway), a partially torn ACL ahead of his 2015 interim title fight against Chad Mendes, the 2021 broken leg, and a broken toe that forced him out of a scheduled 2024 bout against Michael Chandler.
- A 2024 civil sexual assault ruling went against McGregor, who has maintained his innocence and was never criminally charged; on social media he pledged that 'lifestyle changes are permanent' going forward.
Why it matters: McGregor's surgery leaves the UFC without a clear timeline for its most bankable star, with only one fight remaining on his contract and another major knee injury on a resume that already includes a torn ACL, a broken leg, and a broken toe. The promotion had five marquee matchups teed up for a Holloway win; instead, the 38-year-old is headed back to rehab while Dana White and Co. decide what to do with a final-contract return that has no confirmed opponent or date.
