MMA: McGregor says he will have surgery and hopes to fight again

Conor McGregor said on Monday that he will undergo surgery for a knee injury suffered during his much-anticipated return to the octagon and hopes to fight again in the future.

The former two-weight world champion injured himself in the opening moments of his bout against Max Holloway on Saturday in Las Vegas after landing awkwardly while attempting a jumping kick. McGregor tried to continue for a few seconds but eventually signaled to the referee that he could not continue, ending the fight after just 69 seconds.

"All things work out for my good! All things are possible for me because I am a believer!" McGregor wrote on Instagram. "Surgery. Prehab. Return to martial arts practice. Go again. Final fight of the contract. Please God!"

The injury adds to a series of setbacks that have disrupted the 37-year-old Irishman's career, including injuries and issues outside the sport.

McGregor suffered a broken leg in his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier five years ago. He was later scheduled to face Michael Chandler in June 2024, but the bout was canceled after McGregor suffered a broken toe during training.

Later in 2024, an Irish civil court jury found McGregor liable in a case involving allegations from Nikita Hand related to an incident in 2018.

In October 2025, McGregor accepted an 18-month suspension for "whereabouts failures" after missing three attempts by Combat Sports Anti-Doping officials to collect biological samples from him in 2024. The ban was backdated and expired in March.

McGregor, a former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion, said he intends to return to training after surgery as he prepares for what he described as the final fight of his current contract. -Reporting by Frank Pingue in TorontoEditing by Christian Radnedge/Reuters