Conor McGregor is already looking ahead to his final UFC appearance after a devastating knee injury derailed his long-awaited comeback against Max Holloway at UFC 329.
The former two-division UFC champion returned to the Octagon for the first time in five years earlier this month, but disaster struck almost immediately. As McGregor threw his first kick of the fight, he suffered a catastrophic knee injury that forced an abrupt end to the highly anticipated rematch with Holloway.
Medical examinations later confirmed that Conor McGregor tore both his ACL and meniscus, requiring surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation process. UFC CEO Dana White recently revealed that McGregor is expected to remain sidelined for at least a year as he recovers.
Despite the setback, McGregor is already setting his sights on one final run inside the Octagon. Sharing a video of himself warming up before UFC 329, McGregor hinted at his timeline for a return and what could be the final fight of his UFC career.
“What was to be a generational beating is now to be reset,” McGregor wrote.”IFW 2027. The Last Dance.”
The reference to IFW points to International Fight Week, the annual UFC showcase event that also hosted McGregor’s comeback bout against Holloway.
If everything goes according to plan, Conor McGregor appears intent on returning during International Fight Week 2027 to fulfill the final fight remaining on his UFC contract.
The Irish superstar has repeatedly stated that he intends to honor his UFC deal before exploring opportunities elsewhere. Once that final bout is complete, McGregor could become one of the most sought-after free agents in combat sports history.
Potential options outside the UFC include a return to professional boxing or a move to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, where McGregor holds an ownership stake and has frequently expressed interest in competing.
For now, however, McGregor remains focused on a trilogy fight with Holloway.
The former featherweight and lightweight champion has repeatedly called for the matchup to be rebooked once he returns to full health. UFC officials have yet to commit to the idea, largely because of the lengthy recovery timeline and uncertainty surrounding McGregor’s comeback.
Booking Holloway now would likely force the former BMF champion to wait more than a year for the fight, making it difficult for the UFC to finalize any plans in the immediate future.
The injury marked the second consecutive bout in which Conor McGregor suffered a serious leg injury. In 2021, he broke his left leg during his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. Now, after tearing his ACL and meniscus against Holloway, questions continue to surround whether McGregor can return to the elite level that once made him the biggest star in MMA history.
McGregor has not won a UFC fight since his 40-second knockout victory over Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 in January 2020. Since then, he has suffered back-to-back losses to Poirier and saw his comeback against Holloway end before it truly began.
Meanwhile, Holloway is expected to remain active and could potentially face another top lightweight contender before revisiting a future showdown with McGregor.
