Conor McGregor tumbles to the canvas after a jumping kick at UFC 329 in July. [Getty Images]
Conor McGregor tumbles to the canvas after a jumping kick at UFC 329 in July. [Getty Images]

Optimism has emerged that Conor McGregor, whose long-awaited comeback fight ended in disappointment, will still command strong attention and top billing when he returns to the octagon.

McGregor opened his July rematch against Max Holloway with a jumping kick but landed awkwardly on his right leg. He attempted to continue, but a knee problem forced the bout to be stopped.

McGregor was subsequently confirmed to have suffered a torn ACL and meniscus damage and underwent successful surgery. He is now targeting a return next summer. The fight is expected to be the last on his current UFC contract.

UFC welterweight legend Georges St-Pierre (GSP) believes McGregor can overcome the setback and produce the greatest comeback fight in history when he returns next year.

Speaking to sports outlet Covers, St-Pierre said McGregor is currently in rehabilitation and likely about a year away from returning. "When he comes back, I'm convinced he'll still be massively popular. He can do it," St-Pierre said.

Given the anticlimactic ending at UFC 329, generating buzz for yet another McGregor comeback may not be easy. Many fans were left disappointed, and there is a widespread view that he cannot return to his previous form. St-Pierre, however, does not believe fan interest will fade.

St-Pierre described McGregor as an "anomaly," saying, "He is the most popular fighter in UFC history. People will tune in to watch him fight."

Some have speculated that the unusual circumstances of the injury — sustained almost immediately after the opening bell — suggest McGregor may have already been hurt before the fight. Those allegations grew after footage emerged appearing to show him briefly losing his balance while removing his shoes before entering the octagon.

St-Pierre said he had spoken directly with people close to McGregor and had inside information indicating the injury occurred during the fight itself. "I talked to a few people who know Conor, and I have inside info. They say Conor was not injured before the fight. It was merely an unexpected accident," he said.

If McGregor had concealed a fight-ending injury and competed anyway, the fallout would be severe — it would amount to collecting his fight purse without delivering a genuine contest, potentially constituting a breach of contract with the UFC.

St-Pierre dismissed that possibility and backed McGregor's innocence. "He would have preferred to fight properly without getting paid rather than go through something like this," he said.


yjc@heraldcorp.com