Paul Felder isn't confident Conor McGregor comes back better after UFC 329.
McGregor (22-7 MMA, 10-5 UFC) tore his right ACL and meniscus in the first kick he threw against Max Holloway two weeks ago at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The fight was waved off after just 69 seconds as McGregor was unable to continue.
McGregor attempted to come back after breaking his left leg in July 2021. He was first scheduled to face Michael Chandler at UFC 303, but a broken pinky toe forced him out. Despite the slew of injuries and unfortunate events, McGregor insists on fighting again. He thinks with "today’s regenerative medicine advancements and improved training methods," he can return as soon as summer of 2027.
"I do agree that with the advancements in medicine
and things that you can do to support ligaments, and your knee, you can be back quick, but you're also way older than you were the first time you went through this surgery," Felder said on the "Believe You Me" podcast. "You didn't have a broken shin that you had already recovered from in the other leg.
"So I think yeah, he'll be back relatively quick, but I just don't know what your legs are going to be like after yet another big setback. I know he's trying to keep mentally strong. He keeps posting that he's not putting any substances in his body and I'm glad to hear that – good for him. But I just don't know if that's enough to get you back within a year, ready to go when you've had five years to get ready for this one, and your body still didn't seem to hold up to it."
McGregor has one fight remaining on his UFC contract. He hasn't won a bout since knocking out Donald Cerrone in January 2020.
"I hope that he can come back and be better," Felder said. "I don't wish ill-will upon him whatsoever. I just think it's going to be a much trickier road to recovery than he thinks. You're just older now, and it's not like you were an active athlete like the first time that you had an ACL problem and you came back from it – and now, 38, going to be 39 by the time you come back."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Paul Felder: It will be a much 'trickier road to recovery' than McGregor thinks
