McGregor Vows Return After Knee Surgery

Conor McGregor pledged Friday to return to the octagon after undergoing surgery this week to repair the torn ACL he suffered at UFC 329.

The former two-division champion posted a video to social media saying the procedure went well and comparing his situation to fighters who came back from similar injuries. "Surgery was a success and now I'm on the road to recovery," McGregor said, per MMA Fighting. "I want to give a shout-out to Dominick Cruz, who returned from multiple ACLs to recapture his bantamweight crown. Georges St-Pierre, multiple ACLs."

McGregor's Road Back From Second ACL Tear

McGregor tore the ligament in his comeback fight against Max Holloway in July, ending his first appearance in five years. He previously suffered an ACL injury in the first Holloway fight back in August 2013 but won that bout and returned the following summer. He went on to capture titles at featherweight and lightweight.

The 38-year-old spent five years away from competition after breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. Another injury scrapped a planned return at UFC 303 in 2024, and legal issues including a civil sexual assault verdict later that year kept him on the sidelines.

McGregor wrote in the caption that doubters can keep talking while he focuses on the work ahead. He is targeting a return next summer for what would be the final fight on his current UFC contract.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — Conor McGregor releases statement after knee surgery: ‘The doubters can keep talking’