Dillon Danis gives Conor McGregor recovery update after ACL surgery

Dillon Danis said Conor McGregor was in a dark place after his knee injury at UFC 329 but now has a nurse with him around the clock while he rehabilitates in L.A.

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published Thu 22 Oct, 20:54 UK · AI-assisted reporting

danis on mcgregor graphic — Original graphic: Combat Sports UK

Dillon Danis has said Conor McGregor is in a much better state of mind following ACL reconstruction surgery, having struggled after his comeback at UFC 329 ended within 69 seconds.

McGregor's fight with Max Holloway in July was his first in five years and finished when he injured his knee. He has one fight left on his UFC contract and has said he hopes to return as soon as International Fight Week in 2027, although nothing has been booked.

Danis, a longtime friend and training partner, told MMA Fighting's Mike Heck that the result hit McGregor hard. He said McGregor was in a dark place, as any person would be after the biggest comeback ended so quickly, but declined to go into what the pair had discussed, calling it personal.

He said McGregor's head was now a lot better. According to Danis, McGregor has a nurse with him 24 hours a day, is doing all of his exercises and has isolated himself in L.A. to focus on his knee and his return to fighting.

Danis said nobody would be able to convince McGregor that he would not fight again or would never be the same, because once he sets his mind on something he has blinders on. He added that he speaks to McGregor almost every day and was happy to see him in a good spot.

Danis has a contest of his own this week, meeting Arman Tsarukyan in a wrestling match for the inaugural RAF title at RAF 14 on Friday.

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Max Holloway Arman Tsarukyan