Conor McGregor has completed surgery on his right knee. The former UFC champion shared an update on Friday confirming the procedure was successful.
McGregor tore his ACL and meniscus during his fight against Max Holloway at UFC 329 in July. The injury occurred within the first 70 seconds of the bout when McGregor attempted early kicks. The fight was stopped, and Holloway was awarded the victory by technical knockout. The contest marked McGregor’s first UFC appearance in five years after he suffered a broken leg against Dustin Poirier in 2021.
McGregor posted a message stating the surgery was done and the knee was repaired. He said he did not avoid the pain and that the real work of recovery now begins. He described the period ahead as the start of his comeback season with no shortcuts or excuses.
The injury is similar to one McGregor sustained on the opposite leg in his first fight against Holloway in 2013. At that time he required surgery and returned after several months. McGregor has indicated that advances in medicine and training methods support a possible return by next summer. UFC president Dana White previously noted that recovery from this type of injury would likely take about a year.
McGregor is 38 years old and has one fight remaining on his current UFC contract. He has referenced other athletes who returned from serious knee injuries, including Dominick Cruz, Georges St-Pierre, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers.
The former two division champion is now focused on rehabilitation. He reported earlier that he was already walking without a crutch and performing some resistance work with his quadriceps in the weeks after the injury. The surgery represents the next formal step in the recovery process.
