Conor McGregor plans to fight again in UFC despite return lasting just 69 seconds

Conor McGregor says he plans to fight again in UFC despite the fact that his return to competition lasted just 69 seconds before he suffered a leg injury, which he says will require ⁠surgery.

“Surgery. Prehab. Return ⁠to ​martial arts practice. Go again,” McGregor wrote on Instagram on Monday. “Final fight of the contract. ⁠Praise God!”

McGregor was attempting a comeback fight on Saturday in Las Vegas but suffered an apparent knee injury ⁠seconds in his first round of a loss to Max Holloway. ​McGregor did not disclose ‌the exact nature of ‌his injury or provide a timeline for his possible return.

McGregor, ‌who turns 38 Tuesday, said in a social media post after the fight that he was healthy entering the bout.

“My head gasket is gone. Destroyed,” he wrote. “I had no injury / injuries going into the fight. I was throwing kicks, planted ‌and jumping, all throughout camp as well as backstage before the fight. This came out of nowhere. I ​am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell.”

Even with one fight remaining on his UFC contract, the Irishman’s future with the organization is unclear.

UFC appears to be on board ⁠with McGregor attempting another return and interest in his fight ​Saturday was ​considerable. CEO Dana White ​said he’s mulling over ideas for scheduling McGregor’s next ​fight and ‌had “five ideas” for his ​opponent if ​he had beaten Holloway.

McGregor recovered from a torn ACL in 2013, which he injured in his first bout with Holloway, and broke his leg in a loss to Dustin Poirier in 2021.

McGregor was also embroiled in multiple lawsuits during his time away from the octagon, and became aligned with hard-right figures ­during an aborted run for the Irish ­presidency. His last UFC victory was a 40-second triumph against the American Donald Cerrone in January 2020.