Dana White confirms Conor McGregor injury return timetable

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 11: Conor McGregor of Ireland looks on after his welterweight bout against Max Holloway of the United States, not pictured, at T-Mobile Arena on July 11, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) | Getty Images Conor McGregor definitely isn’t fighting agai

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What is the story about?

Conor McGregor definitely isn’t fighting again for a long time.

“Notorious” made a disappointing return to action at UFC 329, lasting just 69 seconds against longtime rival Max Holloway before a McGregor knee injury forced the bout to be stopped. It was McGregor’s first in-cage appearance since July 2026, when he broke his leg in a loss to Dustin Poirier.

Since his latest injury, McGregor has stated he plans to fight again in summer 2027, and though he recently shared a video that appeared to show

him already doing leg exercises, UFC CEO Dana White doubts that changes the current prognosis.

“I have no idea,” White said at a post-Zuffa Boxing event press conference Sunday when asked about the video. “We had him on FaceTime tonight, ringside, but you know, Conor McGregor’s out for a year.”

In McGregor’s previous statement, he pointed out that he previously tore his ACL in a fight with Holloway back in 2013 and returned to competition nine months later, so he is optimistic that “With today’s regenerative medicine advancements and improved training methods it is well within my realm to return by next summer.”

McGregor, 38, has said repeatedly that his goal is to fight out the final fight of his UFC contract. Following the loss to Holloway, he is now without a victory since January 2020.