Dana White has confirmed that Conor McGregor will be sidelined for approximately one year following the torn ACL he suffered in the opening exchange of his UFC 329 rematch with Max Holloway. White made the announcement at the post-fight press conference for Zuffa Boxing's Madison Square Garden debut, where McGregor joined ringside via FaceTime — his first contact with White since the injury. McGregor is currently recovering in California, and White acknowledged he has been largely evasive on the topic of his star fighter's future in the weeks since the bout.
Dana White has officially confirmed that Conor McGregor is facing roughly a year on the sidelines after tearing his ACL during his UFC 329 rematch against Max Holloway, ending the Irishman's night almost before it began.
White delivered the news at the post-fight press conference surrounding Zuffa Boxing's debut card at Madison Square Garden. McGregor himself dialed in via FaceTime during the event — marking his first direct contact with White since suffering the injury in the opening exchange of the bout. White acknowledged that the 38-year-old had been difficult to reach in the weeks following the fight, describing him as largely evasive on the subject of his future.
McGregor, who carries a 22-7 record and has built one of the sport's most recognizable careers out of SBG Ireland, is currently recovering in California. The southpaw stands five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach and lands 5.27 significant strikes per minute — numbers that reflect a fighter who, when healthy, remains a genuine threat in any division he enters. A torn ACL at 38 raises obvious questions about the timeline and appetite for another return.
Holloway, meanwhile, continues to build his own legacy. The Hawaiian, now 34 and ranked fourth in the lightweight division and ninth pound-for-pound, holds a 28-9 record and operates at a relentless pace, landing 6.92 significant strikes per minute with 48 percent accuracy. He fights out of Gracie Technics and has long been regarded as one of the sport's elite volume strikers.
Why it matters
- A one-year absence pushes any McGregor return well into 2027, clouding the lightweight and welterweight divisional pictures.
- Holloway's dominant showing strengthens his case for a top-three ranking at lightweight and keeps him in title contention conversations.
- McGregor's age and injury history mean the timeline White cited could prove optimistic, adding further uncertainty to the star's future.
