​It remains unclear whether Conor McGregor will compete again after his disappointing comeback, but there are some developments that won’t require him to wait long for answers. The 37-year-old is expected to undergo an MRI this week on his injured right leg, according to a source familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak publicly. The MRI is anticipated to give doctors a clearer view of the injury, helping to determine the next steps in his treatment and recovery.
There has been speculation that McGregor either tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee or damaged the meniscus cartilage in that same knee. In the wake of his latest bout, these possibilities have been considered by medical professionals who reviewed the incident and the subsequent symptoms he displayed during and after the fight.
McGregor’s comeback encounter unfolded in front of a home crowd of fans and spectators who had waited years for his return. The fight began with an aggressive opening, as McGregor unleashed a high-risk jumping roundhouse kick. The initial technique did not land cleanly, and he immediately fell to the canvas. He attempted to rise and throw another kick, only to collapse again, prompting the referee to intervene. After a third fall, McGregor managed to get back to his feet briefly, but he immediately reached for his injured right leg, and it appeared to buckle under him. The official stopped the bout at 1 minute and 9 seconds into the first round.
The match itself took place in Las Vegas at the T-Mobile Arena, and the result cast a pall over what was billed as a much-anticipated return for the Irish star. The night will be remembered for the abrupt collapse and the questions it raised about McGregor’s future in competition. The visual sequence—McGregor stumbling backward after throwing a hard left, then clutching his knee in evident distress—left both fans and analysts pondering the severity of the injury and the potential implications for his career.
Recovery times for knee injuries vary widely and depend on the exact tissue damaged. When a meniscus is torn, recovery can range from as little as four weeks for minor, partial tears to as long as nine months for more significant damage, according to Kerlan-Jobe, a renowned orthopedic clinic in Southern California. A torn ACL, on the other hand, typically necessitates a longer timeline, with rehabilitation commonly spanning from about six months to nine months, as outlined in NIH-supported research published in 2025. The difference between a partial versus a full tear of the meniscus or the severity of ACL involvement will significantly shape McGregor’s path back to training, competition, and public life.
The prospect of a prolonged rehabilitation is particularly daunting for McGregor given his five-year absence from active competition. The delay in his Octagon return has been influenced not only by the physical demands of a major knee injury but also by the psychological and logistical challenges that accompany a protracted recovery. His last major fight before this setback occurred when he sustained a broken leg in a first-round TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in 2021. Although his scheduled comeback in 2024 had to be postponed due to a broken toe, the more recent setback adds another layer of complexity to planning a potential return to the sport.
Beyond the physical and medical uncertainties, McGregor faces additional non-physical hurdles. He has been involved in a civil lawsuit that culminated in a ruling finding him liable for sexual assault, with the court ordering him to pay damages exceeding $200,000 related to an incident involving a woman who alleged he assaulted her at a Dublin hotel in 2018. The presence of legal matters adds a further dimension to any discussion about his professional future and the timing of any potential fights.
This update about McGregor’s injury and the anticipated MRI is part of ongoing coverage of a fighter whose career has already included a dramatic rise, a series of injuries, and notable personal and legal challenges. As medical professionals review the MRI results, more concrete information will likely emerge regarding the extent of the damage, the expected recovery trajectory, and the feasibility of a return to competition. For fans and analysts, the MRI outcome will be a critical data point in predicting whether McGregor will be able to resume training, and if so, when he might again step into the octagon.
Note: This article originally appeared with coverage focusing on the MRI for Conor McGregor’s leg injury and the related medical considerations, and was prepared to reflect the evolving status of his condition as of the latest available reporting.