Conor McGregor has re-emerged with a defiant message, vowing that his fighting story is not over despite a nightmare UFC return on Saturday night.
The Irish star stepped back into the Octagon after a five-year absence, facing longtime rival Max Holloway in a welterweight clash at UFC 392.
But the comeback unravelled almost immediately, with McGregor sustaining a knee injury in the opening moments before the bout was over inside just 69 seconds.
In the hours after the defeat, the fighter known as “The Notorious” addressed the setback on X, saying he was in “hell” following the injury.
By Tuesday, however — the day he also marked his 38th birthday — McGregor appeared more composed as he delivered a fresh message to supporters after the shock result.
In a video posted on his Instagram, McGregor passionately insisted: ‘Happy birthday to the Mac. We’ll be back!
Conor McGregor resurfaced on Tuesday, just days after his ill-fated UFC comeback
“In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. We’ll be back.”
McGregor then clasped his hands together in a prayer-like gesture, raised his gaze toward the sky and released a long, heavy breath.
He ended the video by holding a cheers with wife Dee Devlin.
The caption to his video read: ‘Thank you for all the birthday messages everyone! I am 38 years of age today! 38, no hate! Just love’.
In the comments, fellow UFC legend Jon Jones was among those to send well wishes to the Irishman. He wrote: ‘This too shall pass, you can’t keep a good man down. Head high champ, happy birthday.’
The Notorious appeared to ‘blow his knee out’ on Saturday night while attempting a kick less than 10 seconds after the bout in Las Vegas, Nevada, got underway.
He fought on for a further 60 seconds but, with it obvious he was in serious discomfort, the referee put a halt to proceedings.
McGregor appeared utterly bewildered as he limped back to his dressing room amid loud jeers ringing around the T-Mobile Arena, with fans speculating that he may have been carrying an injury heading into the fight.
McGregor’s long-awaited comeback ended in disaster at UFC 329 on Saturday night
The Irishman blew his knee out after throwing a kick within the first seconds of the bout
Such suspicions arose after footage emerged of the 37-year-old, draped in an Irish flag, hopping after pulling his trainers off just minutes before the fight started.
Yet, in an emotional statement posted to X this morning, McGregor has insisted that the freak injury ‘came out of nowhere’.
He wrote: ‘My head gasket is gone. Destroyed. 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.’
McGregor later added: ‘I was so sharp and so ready for this fight I cannot believe what has happened. The talk of me being off while walking in to the fight is nonsense. I was calm, ready, and confident. I am in shock what has taken place.
‘The devil is literally staring at me right in front of my face here. I am not engaging. I will be at church tomorrow. I will overcome this. I will not be deterred. I will return.’
In what was his first fight in five years, McGregor had come out the traps flying and went straight for Holloway with a flying kick aimed at his upper-body.
Max Holloway unleashed a barrage of punches down on the wounded McGregor in Las Vegas
But it was a slip on his standing foot which appeared to cause the Notorious’ injury, leaving him open to an attack from 34-year-old Holloway.
The American immediately pounced on McGregor on the floor, throwing a number of punches to his head before allowing the star back up to his feet.
It was a move which delighted the thousands of supporters watching on. However, just moments later, it became obvious that McGregor was struggling when his leg appeared to buckle underneath him – and the referee put a halt to proceedings within seconds.
It meant that McGregor’s much talked about return to the cage ironically ended almost identically to his last appearance against Dustin Poirier in July 2021 – with a horrific injury.
