During the post-event press conference following Zuffa Boxing’s event at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, UFC President Dana White delivered an update on former two-division champion Conor McGregor, confirming the Irish star is expected to be sidelined for approximately one year due to a knee injury.
The topic was raised by an interviewer, who noted that recent footage had surfaced showing McGregor performing leg exercises, prompting questions about the state of his recovery. White was direct in his response.
“I have no idea,” White said when asked about the specifics of McGregor’s rehabilitation. “We had him on FaceTime tonight ringside, but you know, Conor McGregor’s out for a year.”
McGregor, who suffered a severe leg injury during his UFC 264 bout against Dustin Poirier in July 2021, has dealt with a prolonged and complicated recovery. A recent fig ht attempt ended before it began when he withdrew from a scheduled bout against Michael Chandler, which had been tied to the filming of TUF. However, the two never made it to the cage together.
McGregor finally made his comeback at UFC 329 against Max Holloway, where McGregor’s long-awaited return lasted just 69 seconds. Early in the opening round, the former two-division champion suffered a devastating right knee injury, repeatedly losing his balance and collapsing to the canvas as he attempted to stand and throw punches.
Recognizing that McGregor was unable to defend himself or continue safely, the referee stepped in Round 1, awarding Max Holloway a first-round TKO victory.
The latest update from White suggests that timeline has been extended once again. With McGregor still working through his recovery, a year-long absence would push any potential comeback well into the future, frustrating a fanbase that has been waiting years to see him compete at the highest level.
There is no official word yet on what McGregor’s return might look like or who his opponent could be when he does eventually come back.
