Dana White rules out Conor McGregor's return after serious injury at UFC 329: 'completely screwed'

Dana and McGregor at the UFC press conference. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC

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Dana White has no intention of rushing Conor McGregor 's return to the UFC octagon. The Irishman returned to competition at UFC 329 after a five-year absence, but his fight against Max Holloway was stopped in the first few seconds after he suffered a serious knee injury.

Despite the high expectations surrounding the former champion's return and the commercial impact of his presence at the event, the UFC president stated that he will only discuss a new fight for 'Notorious' once he is fully recovered and cleared to resume training.

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After UFC Oklahoma City, held last Saturday (18), Dana White revealed that McGregor suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and classified the fighter's knee situation as worrying.

"ACL. His knee is completely messed up," said Dana White.

In an interview with MMA Fighting, the executive explained that the Irishman will need to undergo surgery and a long recovery process before considering a new fight. According to White, McGregor's return will depend exclusively on his medical progress, as the former champion will still need to complete all stages of rehabilitation and receive authorization to return to intense training before a possible return to the UFC.

“He’s going to have knee surgery. That’s it. The discussion about Conor McGregor isn’t even worth it right now. He needs knee surgery. He’ll have to go through physical therapy. All of this will take time. And then, when the doctor says he can go back to heavy training, then we’ll start talking about Conor McGregor again,” explained the UFC president.

How did Conor McGregor tear his ACL against Max Holloway?

Conor McGregor suffered a knee injury in the opening seconds of his fight against Max Holloway at UFC 329. Urged on by the crowd, the Irishman attempted to surprise his opponent with a flying kick as soon as referee Marc Goddard signaled the start of the fight, but he slipped on landing and felt the impact on his knee.

Despite the pain, the former UFC champion still tried to continue the fight and attempted another high kick, which was blocked by the Hawaiian. Shortly after, the referee noticed that McGregor was having difficulty walking and decided to stop the fight, awarding Holloway the victory by medical stoppage.

The kick that led to the ending 😢 😭 #UFC329

It just wasn't meant to be for Conor McGregor ... pic.twitter.com/wXEdPnH19t

— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) July 12, 2026

What is an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear?

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is one of the most frequent orthopedic injuries, especially among athletes. Responsible for stabilizing the knee, the ligament prevents excessive displacement of the tibia relative to the femur and helps control the rotational movements of the joint.

In most cases, the injury occurs without direct contact, being caused by sudden movements, such as:

• Sudden changes of direction with one foot firmly on the ground;
• Rapid decelerations;
• Improper landings after jumps (as in McGregor's case);
• Hyperextension of the knee;
• At the moment of the rupture, it is common to hear a popping sound, followed by intense pain, rapid swelling, and a feeling of instability, as if the knee were giving way.

Treatment varies according to the severity and profile of the injured person: it can be conservative, with physiotherapy focused on muscle strengthening, or surgical, indicated mainly for athletes, with ligament reconstruction through grafting. Complete recovery, in surgical cases, can take between nine and twelve months.

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