Conor McGregor‘s octagon return was five years in the making. When it finally happened, the fight lasted 69 seconds.
The former two-division champion headlined the UFC 329 fight card on July 11 in a rematch with former featherweight champion and BMF titleholder Max Holloway. At the sound of the bell to start the bout, McGregor rushed across the cage and leaped into the air with a jumping switch kick. He landed awkwardly on his right leg and fell to the canvas. He fell twice more, once while throwing a kick and later a punch. The referee stepped in once it was obvious McGregor had suffered an injury. The exact injury wasn’t known until Sunday.
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McGregor revealed that he injured his “acl and meniscus” in an Instagram post. Ironically, it was the same injury he suffered in the first fight against Holloway in 2013.
“Update: It was acl and meniscus. It is the same injury as the first Holloway fight, only this time the opposite leg,” McGregor wrote. “Quite shocking. I returned to competition within 9 months to fight Diego Brandao back then. With today’s regenerative medicine advancements and improved training methods it is well within my realm to return by next summer.
“I am walking without a crutch. I done leg extension machine work the other day to no issue. So I can walk without aid, and activate my quad under resistance. All very positive. I am maximum discipline and have maintained it fully since the bout. I wonder was I saved from something worse here. I believe so. I would have attended the after party as “the man” and who knows then. I believe I was saved. Thank you God! On we go, no sad stories. Thank you for the support and well wishes everyone, your health is your wealth.”
