Conor McGregor Posts Leg Extensions Days After Knee Tear, Fans Cannot Believe It
Conor McGregor gave fans a quick update on his injured knee days after UFC 329, posting footage of himself doing leg extensions following the ACL and meniscus tear that ended his Max Holloway fight in 69 seconds. The clip drew disbelief, jokes and a fair amount of skepticism from viewers who pointed out that controlled machine work does not test an ACL the way twisting, cutting or fighting does.
McGregor’s return against Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11 ended almost immediately after he hurt his right knee during the opening sequence. He was unable to continue, with the bout officially waved off at 1:09 of the first round. The former UFC two-weight champion later confirmed the diagnosis himself: “It was ACL and meniscus. It is the same injury as the first Holloway fight, only this time the opposite leg.” He said he was walking without a crutch and had completed leg-extension machine work “to no issue.”
Fans React as Conor McGregor Trains Injured Knee Days After UFC 329
That led into his latest Instagram post, where McGregor was shown working through leg extensions. It was a striking visual so soon after a comeback that had been promoted for years, then ended before either fighter could settle into the contest.
Reaction ranged from support to straight disbelief. One fan asked, “How are you okay already bruh,” while another wrote, “Is this post surgery?” A third joked: “Titanium knees.”
Others focused on McGregor’s history. Me knee was a ballewn,” one commenter wrote, recalling the Irishman’s famous post-fight wording after his 2021 broken-leg loss to Dustin Poirier. Another posted, “Lifting weights again! Fool me once..” while one hopeful fan looked ahead to a possible Michael Chandler matchup: “Let’s hope he gets the fight against Chandler ez win.
There were also plenty of comments pushing back on the idea that leg extensions offer proof of a rapid recovery. “This proves literally nothing if it’s an ACL tear,” read one response. Another added, “You can do that with a cooked ACL. It’s lateral movement that doesn’t go too well.”
One fan put the distinction more directly: “Do you know the difference between linear and lateral movements? ACL stabilizes twisting and pivoting, not straight line lifting.” Another asked, “Knee can handle sheering force already eh.”
The ACL helps stabilize the knee during pivoting, cutting and rotational movement, all of which are central to MMA. A seated leg extension is a controlled, mostly straight-line exercise, so being able to perform one does not confirm readiness for sparring, kicking or a return to competition.
‘The Notorious’ has targeted next summer for his final fight under his current UFC deal, though an ACL and meniscus injury usually requires a long rehabilitation process before an athlete can return to high-impact sport. the video does show McGregor is active in rehabilitation. It does not answer the larger question fans have been asking since UFC 329: when, or whether, the Irish-born athlete will be ready to fight at full speed again.
