Mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor is confronting another significant injury setback, requiring surgery on his right leg. As he approaches his 38th birthday on Tuesday, McGregor has already expressed his determination to return to the Octagon.

The Irish fighter suffered an apparent knee injury just seconds into the first round of his comeback bout against Max Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas on Saturday, resulting in a loss. Despite this immediate blow, McGregor took to Instagram, declaring:

"Surgery. Prehab. Return to martial arts practice. Go again."

He added,

"Final fight of the contract. Praise God!"

In a post-fight update, McGregor voiced his profound frustration, insisting he was fully fit prior to the bout. He stated,

"My head gasket is gone. Destroyed. I had no injury/injuries going into the fight. This came out of nowhere. I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell."

With one fight remaining on his UFC contract, McGregor’s future remains uncertain. However, the organization appears supportive of his comeback, with CEO Dana White noting considerable interest in Saturday's fight and mentioning he had "five ideas" for McGregor's next opponent had he secured a victory.

This injury adds to a history of physical challenges, including a torn ACL in 2013 during his first encounter with Holloway and a broken leg in 2021 against Dustin Poirier.

Despite being a former two-weight UFC champion with notable knockout wins over Jose Aldo and Eddie Alvarez, McGregor has struggled since beating Alvarez in November 2016, with only five UFC fights since then, losing four of them. His overall MMA record now stands at 22 wins and seven defeats from 29 fights.