What's Next for Conor McGregor After UFC 329?

UFC 329 was supposed to mark the beginning of that long-awaited return, but instead, it ended in another devastating injury that has once again thrown the future of the UFC's biggest star into doubt.

With surgery now confirmed and another lengthy rehabilitation ahead, the focus has shifted away from title aspirations to a much bigger question: does Conor McGregor still have one last chapter left in mixed martial arts?

Conor McGregor with Long, Uncertain Road

When Conor McGregor limped out of the T-Mobile Arena after UFC 329, the conversation wasn't about Max Holloway's victory. It was about another comeback cut short.

After five years away from competition, McGregor's return lasted just 69 seconds before a catastrophic knee injury forced referee Mike Beltran to wave off the contest. Within hours, the Irish superstar was facing familiar questions about retirement, his health and whether the UFC would ever see "The Notorious" compete again.

A few days later, however, the story had already changed. McGregor wasn't talking about retirement. He was talking about surgery, rehabilitation and another return.

Whether that comeback ever happens is another matter entirely.

McGregor Says Injury Came Out of Nowhere

Almost immediately after the fight, social media was flooded with theories suggesting McGregor had entered UFC 329 carrying a knee injury. Clips from fight week showing him walking cautiously only fuelled those rumours. McGregor responded directly on X.

"I had no injury / injuries going into the fight. I was throwing kicks, planted and jumping, all throughout camp as well as backstage before the fight. This came out of nowhere. I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell."

He also dismissed speculation surrounding his walkout.

"The talk of me being off while walking in to the fight is nonsense. I was calm, ready, and confident. I am in shock what has taken place."

For a fighter who has built much of his career projecting supreme confidence, it was one of McGregor's more vulnerable public statements. Rather than promoting a future fight or engaging in his trademark bravado, he openly admitted how difficult the setback had been.

John Kavanagh and Dana White Back Conor McGregor's Version

McGregor wasn't the only one pushing back against suggestions that he entered the Octagon compromised. Long-time coach John Kavanagh explained that the jumping switch kick which caused the injury had been a regular part of training camp.

Posting on Facebook after the event, Kavanagh wrote:

"Devastated. That opening jump switch kick was drilled daily for months... Never an issue. Knee went when he threw the very first kick."

UFC CEO Dana White echoed those sentiments during the post-fight press conference. While stressing he wasn't a doctor, White said the early medical opinion pointed toward a torn ACL.

"We're assuming blown ACL," White told reporters after the event. "That's what I figured when I saw it, and the doctors think the same thing too."

White also acknowledged the obvious challenge McGregor already faced before the injury.

"Five years off in this sport is rough."

Those words now carry even greater significance.

The Focus Has Shifted From Fighting to Surgery

Three days after UFC 329, McGregor finally provided the update everyone had been waiting for. Again using social media, he confirmed that surgery, not another fight, was next.

"Surgery. Prehab. Return to martial arts practice. Go again."

The message was short and characteristically defiant. It also provided the clearest indication yet that McGregor has no intention of walking away despite suffering a third major leg injury in five years.

Medical timelines remain uncertain until the full extent of the damage is confirmed. Early reports suggested a torn ACL, while subsequent reporting indicated additional scans would determine whether other structures in the knee, including the meniscus, had also been damaged.

Either way, rehabilitation is expected to take months rather than weeks.

Can Conor McGregor Still Return?

That question has become increasingly complicated. Conor McGregor will turn 39 before any realistic return date if surgery and rehabilitation proceed as expected.

Unlike the broken tibia suffered against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264, this injury affects stability rather than impact trauma. Recovering explosiveness after major knee ligament damage has historically proved difficult even for younger fighters.

The problem today is different. This is no longer about rebuilding confidence. It's about rebuilding a body that has endured repeated catastrophic injuries.

The UFC's Biggest Star Still Commands Attention

One thing UFC 329 proved beyond doubt is that McGregor remains MMA's biggest attraction. A comeback lasting barely over a minute still dominated headlines for days afterwards. Conor McGregor's injury became the story, as did his recovery.

Conor McGregor's next fight, despite having no date, no opponent and no medical clearance, has already become the story. Few athletes possess that kind of gravitational pull.

The Road Ahead for Conor McGregor

For the first time since UFC 329, there is at least some clarity surrounding McGregor's immediate future: Surgery comes first. Recovery follows. Only then can the UFC begin discussing another return.

Whether that return ultimately becomes the final chapter of one of MMA's most remarkable careers remains unknown. If McGregor's own words are any indication, he has no intention of letting UFC 329 be the final image fans remember.

"I will overcome this. I will not be deterred. I will return."