Danis reveals McGregor was in 'a dark place' after ACL ends UFC 329 comeback

Conor McGregor fell into a “dark place” after suffering an ACL injury just seconds into his UFC 329 comeback against Max Holloway, according to close friend and long-time training partner Dillon Danis — but Danis insists the former two-division champion is now fully focused on fighting again.

McGregor’s return to the octagon, his first in five years, was cut brutally short when his knee gave way in the opening moments of the Holloway bout. He has since undergone ACL reconstruction surgery and, per Danis, retreated to Los Angeles to begin his rehabilitation.

“Obviously after the fight you could only imagine how someone could feel coming [back] after five years and that happening that fast,” Danis told MMA Fighting. “He was in a dark place. Any human being will. I’m not going into details what we talked about because that’s obviously personal but as a human, how would you feel? The biggest comeback and that happens.”

Danis says the picture has since improved considerably. McGregor has a round-the-clock nurse, is working through his rehabilitation exercises, and has shut out outside noise as he plots his next move.

“Now his head’s a lot better,” Danis said. “He has a 24/7 nurse with him. He’s doing all the exercises. He’s isolated himself in L.A. doing all the right things for his knee and he’s focused on coming back. There’s something about Conor that [when] he puts his mind towards something, he gets it done. There’s no one that will tell him he’s not fighting again — when that guy has his head on something it’s blinders.”

McGregor, who has one fight remaining on his current UFC contract, has publicly stated his ambition to compete again as early as International Fight Week 2027, typically held in July. No bout has been offered or formally scheduled at this stage.

Danis, who speaks to McGregor almost daily, is unequivocal about his friend’s current mindset. “He is focused right now,” he said. “I talk to him almost every day and he’s in a good spot right now and I’m happy to see it.”