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Conor McGregor after surgery: ‘Comeback season starts now’

By Thomson Reuters Aug 7, 2026 | 2:15 PM

UFC star Conor McGregor said his “mindset is unstoppable, unbreakable” as he begins his recovery from knee surgery.

The 38-year-old fighter suffered an ​ACL and meniscus injury in his right ‌knee during his comeback fight against Max Holloway on July 11.

On Friday, the Irishman posted an update on Instagram featuring a video of himself at the beach with his ‌leg ​wrapped in a brace.

“What’s up, ⁠folks? The Mac is ⁠back,” he said. “My knee is repaired. Surgery was a success and I’m on the road to recovery.

“That should tell you all you need ​to know about my mindset. Straight into surgery, knee repaired and on the road. Let’s go.”

McGregor ⁠said he hopes to return ⁠to the Octagon by next summer ​to finish a UFC contract that reportedly has one ​fight remaining.

Fighting for the first time since ‌2021, McGregor appeared to sustain the injury when he opened his fight against Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas with a flying kick. The ⁠referee stopped the fight after 69 seconds and Holloway won by TKO.

It was the third consecutive defeat for the ⁠former champion, ‌who last won a fight in ⁠2020 when he defeated Donald Cerrone ​by ‌TKO at UFC 246.

“The doubters can ​keep talking,” ⁠McGregor wrote on his Instagram post. “I didn’t run from the pain. I walked straight into it. Now the real work begins. Comeback season starts now. No shortcuts. No excuses. Just the will to rise again.”

–Field ​Level Media