McGregor suffers right-knee injury at UFC 329, five years after left-leg problem

Conor McGregor's long-awaited return to the octagon ended in heartbreak on July 11, 2026, when the Irish star suffered a right-knee injury during his bout at UFC 329, forcing a dramatic and premature conclusion to the night.

The setback carries an especially painful resonance for McGregor, who sustained a left-leg injury in July 2021 that sidelined him for an extended period. Now, five years on, another lower-body injury has cut short what was one of the most anticipated comebacks in recent MMA memory. The 37-year-old southpaw from Dublin, fighting out of SBG Ireland, entered UFC 329 carrying a professional record of 22 wins and 7 losses. Standing five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach, McGregor has built his reputation as one of the sport's most dangerous strikers, averaging 5.27 significant strikes landed per minute at a 49 percent accuracy rate across his career.

Why it matters

• McGregor's injury marks the second serious lower-body setback of his career, raising immediate questions about his future availability and timeline for recovery.
• His return had already been years in the making following the 2021 leg break, meaning another layoff could push him further toward the latter stages of his career at age 37.
• The lightweight and welterweight divisions will continue without one of the sport's most recognizable names while the extent of the damage is assessed.

The full severity of the right-knee injury has not yet been detailed, and no timeline for recovery was available at the time of reporting.