Sports medicine physician Dr. Brian Sutterer has raised questions about Conor McGregor’s reported ACL and meniscus injury after the former UFC champion shared several knee-focused training videos online. Sutterer said McGregor’s apparent movement, range of motion and loading work do not line up neatly with the reported timeline for a complete ACL tear and a hoped-for return at International Fight Week in 2027.
The Irish-born athlete suffered the injury in the opening seconds of his UFC 329 fight with Max Holloway. He attempted a flying kick, went down, got back up and tried the move again before the contest was stopped. Reports afterward described ACL and meniscus damage, which would place McGregor on a long recovery path if surgery is needed.
Doctor Flags Conor McGregor’s Knee Workouts Amid Reported ACL and Meniscus Tear
Since then, ‘The Notorious’ has posted videos showing stretches, lower-body workouts and movements that put visible force through the knee. The clips have prompted speculation from fans about whether he has delayed surgery, avoided it, or suffered a different degree of injury than first believed.
Sutterer, a board-certified sports medicine physician, addressed the situation on X after watching McGregor’s recent activity. “Starting to wonder what’s going on with Conor McGregor’s ACL tear… He’s posting a lot of pretty intense knee loading workout videos and seems to have great range of motion and function,” Sutterer wrote.
“If the plan is a return for IFW 2027 and he truly has a complete ACL tear, he needs to get that surgery done and I’m surprised he hasn’t had it yet based on what’s been reported.”
The doctor later responded to people who suggested McGregor could simply be in a prehab phase before reconstruction. Prehab commonly involves building strength and restoring knee movement ahead of surgery, though Sutterer said the footage appears more advanced than he would expect if that were the explanation.
“Of course I know about prehab. His knee doesn’t look at all like it needs prehab based on what he’s doing and in elite athletes timeline is often more important than prehab,” Sutterer said. “If he truly needs an ACL recon AND wants to comeback by next summer/spring, it needs to get done quick. Sure they may have a reason for waiting that doesn’t match what Conor has been saying and sharing.”
Sutterer’s comments are not a diagnosis of McGregor, and he has not examined the fighter or reviewed his scans. Knee injuries can vary greatly: a partial ACL tear, a complete rupture, a meniscus injury, swelling levels, stability testing and an athlete’s chosen treatment plan can all affect the recovery process. McGregor has not publicly released detailed medical imaging or confirmed a surgical timetable.
Still, Sutterer has credentials relevant to the discussion. Mercy lists him as a sports medicine physician who completed physical medicine and rehabilitation residency training and a sports medicine fellowship at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. He is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation and sports medicine. His professional focus includes musculoskeletal injuries affecting athletes and active people.
McGregor’s videos show he is training, but they do not settle the medical question. The key issue is whether the reported injury was a complete ACL rupture requiring reconstruction, or whether his team is following a plan that has not yet been publicly explained.
