Conor McGregor's attempt to reclaim his place in the UFC lasted slightly over a minute Saturday night in Las Vegas, but the Irish fighter says the setback will not keep him from the octagon.
McGregor suffered a leg injury in the opening round of his bout against Max Holloway, forcing him to exit the fight early. Within days, he posted on Instagram that he would pursue surgery, rehabilitation, and a return to competition, signaling his determination to complete his UFC contract with one final bout.
"Surgery. Prehab. Return to martial arts practice. Go again," McGregor wrote Monday. "Final fight of the contract. Praise God!"
The 37-year-old fighter claimed he entered Saturday's fight healthy, describing the injury as unexpected. He detailed his frustration in a social media post shortly after the loss, saying he had been training and kicking without issue throughout camp and even backstage before the bout.
"My head gasket is gone. Destroyed," he wrote. "I had no injury going into the fight. This came out of nowhere. I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell."
McGregor did not specify the exact nature of his injury or provide a timeline for his comeback. The setback marks another obstacle in a career riddled with physical setbacks. He tore his ACL in a 2013 fight with Holloway and fractured his leg in a 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier.
The UFC appears receptive to another McGregor return. CEO Dana White indicated he was considering scheduling options and had already devised matchups for the fighter had he defeated Holloway. The organization's interest in McGregor fights remains high, with his Saturday comeback drawing considerable attention despite its brevity.
With one fight left on his contract, McGregor's path forward depends on his recovery and the UFC's willingness to book him again. His last victory came in January 2020, a 40-second win over Donald Cerrone. Since then, his career has been interrupted by injuries and time away from competition.
Author James Rodriguez: "McGregor's resilience is undeniable, but at 37 and facing yet another major injury, this feels less like a comeback narrative and more like chasing ghosts."
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