Islam Makhachev expressed sympathy for Conor McGregor following the Irish superstar’s devastating knee injury at UFC 329, an outcome the lightweight champion didn’t anticipate despite expecting his teammate Max Holloway to emerge victorious.
“Honestly, I feel bad, you know,” Makhachev said when asked about his reaction to McGregor’s injury. “But I know Max is going to beat him, but not like fast like this in the first minute. I want to see how he competes after the five years, and honestly, feel bad.”
The setback marks another cruel twist in McGregor’s attempt to return to competitive action after a five-year absence. The former two-division champion lasted just 69 seconds against Holloway before going down with what’s been reported as an ACL injury. The abrupt ending denied fans the opportunity to see how the 38-year-old would perform after such an extended layoff.
McGregor’s extended hiatus from the octagon stemmed from a serious leg injury against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in 2021, combined with various controversies that kept him sidelined until 2026.
His long-awaited comeback was supposed to answer questions about whether he could recapture his former glory, but instead raised new concerns about his ability to continue competing at the highest level.
Following the injury, McGregor addressed the incident on Instagram, suggesting that conditions in the cage may have contributed to his misfortune. He claimed the dry ice from the fog machine used during his walkout left the cage floor wet, calling for the result to be ruled a no contest.
Despite the setback, McGregor remains defiant about his future. In an Instagram post featuring footage of himself warming up before the Holloway bout, he wrote: “What was to be a generational beating is now to be reset. IFW 2027 The Last Dance.”
UFC CEO Dana White confirmed the severity of McGregor’s situation during a recent Zuffa Boxing event, telling reporters that the Irish star faces an extended recovery period.
“I have no idea. We had him on FaceTime tonight ringside,” White said. “But, you know, Conor McGregor’s out for a year.”
The timeline raises legitimate questions about whether fans will ever see McGregor compete again. At his age and with the mounting injuries, even his stated goal of returning in 2027 seems uncertain at best.
