Dana White: Conor McGregor out a year after UFC 329 knee injury

UFC CEO Dana White does not expect Conor McGregor to fight again until mid-2027 following the torn ACL and meniscus the Irishman suffered at UFC 329 earlier this month.

McGregor blew out his right knee on the opening kick of his bout with Max Holloway on July 11, collapsing under his own weight and ending the fight before any real action unfolded. White confirmed the extended timeline after Sunday's Zuffa Boxing card in New York.

"We had him on FaceTime tonight ringside," White told reporters, per MMA Mania. "But you know, Conor McGregor's out for a year."

What McGregor said about the ACL tear

The diagnosis mirrors an ACL and meniscus tear McGregor suffered in his left knee 13 years ago, also against Holloway. He returned in nine months that time and has expressed hope he can match that recovery window again. In a since-deleted post, McGregor said the current injury is worse because it affects his lead leg, disrupting every movement — striking, takedown entries, even basic stance shifts. The left knee was his back leg, which allowed him to strike off the opposite side and avoid the limb when entering grapples.

At 38, McGregor faces a longer road back than in his younger days. Other fighters have powered through similar injuries mid-fight — Carlos Ulberg snapped his ACL but knocked out Jiri Prochazka to win the heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight title — but McGregor's knee buckled repeatedly the moment he loaded it. He is scheduled for surgery and awaiting clearance to start rehab.

McGregor has targeted next summer for a return, though White's estimate suggests the comeback will not happen before July 2027 at the earliest.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Dana White delivers disappointing timeline for Conor McGregor return