Conor McGregor is not yet ready to call it a career, it seems. |
📷: Getty/UFC

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Despite his latest injury setback, Conor
McGregor is eager to see out his contract with the
Ultimate Fighting Championship.

McGregor (22-7) returned to action for the first time since 2021 in
a rematch against Max
Holloway at
UFC 329 in Las Vegas. His much-awaited return ended in massive
disappointment as “Notorious†injured his knee with the first kick
he threw. McGregor was barely able to stay upright after the
injury, prompting the referee to call a stop to the contest in just
69 seconds.

Conor McGregor says surgery comes first before he attempts one
last fight under his current UFC deal

With his Octagon return ending in such anticlimactic and
devastating fashion, many believe McGregor won't return to the
Octagon again, especially considering his vast wealth. However, the
former two-division champion seemingly hasn't given up yet. He
recently reiterated his faith in God while revealing his plans.

“My faith is unconditional and I am thankful I get to prove it! My
lifestyle changes are permanent and not just until. I am thankful I
get to prove it,†McGregor wrote on Instagram. “I am in sin city
and remain completely devoid of all sin. I will not open that door
nor crack its seal! I am already back to collecting wins! In Jesus
name I pray! Church was intense today, my heart is heavy but
through Christ my mind is STRONG! I am so grateful to see my family
fall more in love with God each day! I am a child of God. I am a
friend of God. God makes a way for me where there seems to be no
way. I am not a victim of my circumstances, I overcome them. God is
at work in me to will and to work his good pleasure! My youth is
being renewed like the eagles! In Jesus I am thoroughly loved,
cherished, adored. I walk in divine health. I live under
supernatural protection. All things work out for my good! All
things are possible for me because I am a believer!”

The Dubliner claims he wants to undergo surgery before returning to
finish the last remaining fight on his current UFC contract.

“Surgery. Prehab. Return to martial arts practice. Go again. Final
fight of the contract. Please God! I trust in You Lord! Show me
Your way. Thank You God ðŸ™â€

Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight Cory
Sandhagen's hamstring is a mess after his loss against Mario
Bautista.

Sandhagen (18-7) took on Bautista (18-3) in a bantamweight bout at

UFC 329 in Las Vegas. While they were going toe-to-toe in the
first round, Bautista caught Sandhagen in a kneebar late in the
round, hyperextending his left leg. While “The Sandman†survived
the round, he immediately informed his corner that his leg was
compromised.

Despite Sandhagen's movement being evidently limited, he
surprisingly out-landed Bautista in the second round. The latter
then dropped Sandhagen in the third frame and accumulated control
time to earn a unanimous decision win.

Sandhagen details how a suspected hamstring tear altered his
game plan

Sandhagen has since revealed a gruesome injury to his hamstring
from Bautista's submission attempt. He believes he tore his
hamstring in the opening round, limiting his arsenal for the rest
of the fight. The 34-year-old notes that fighting at the top level
allows little margin of error.

“Frickin bummer man. Losing in fighting is the most embarrassing
thing ever. Sucks,†Sandhagen wrote on Instagram. “Pretty sure the
kneebar tore my hamstring in the first (getting MRI this week). It
kept locking out weird if I did certain things. So that kind of
messed up my game plan. Congrats to Mario. He was well prepared.
1st was close but he won it with that knee bar. 2nd, I won
(surprisingly cause leg was jacked). 3rd, I wanted to have the same
round as before but got dropped. Gotta fight near perfect to win at
the top. Something I need to get better at. Appreciate the love
from you guys. Enjoy your week. Love you. Peace.â€

This was Sandhagen's second loss on the trot, following a failed
title bid against Merab
Dvalishvili this past October. Meanwhile, Bautista has only
lost to Umar
Nurmagomedov in 11 outings since 2022 and has since rebounded
with back-to-back wins.

A lightweight matchup for the next
Ultimate Fighting Championship card in Paris has been
unveiled.

Trevor
Peek will take on Kurtis
Campbell in a featherweight bout at UFC
Paris on Sept. 5 at Accor Arena in Paris.

Trevor Peek and Kurtis Campbell meet in a featherweight bout at
UFC Paris on Sept. 5

While Peek (9-3) came to the UFC as a highly touted prospect in
2022, he's struggled for consistency, going 2-3 in the UFC and
currently on a two-fight slump. Meanwhile, Campbell (8-1) was also
undefeated when he earned his contract with a first-round knockout
on the Contender Series last year.

He was also a big betting favorite going into his UFC debut against
Danny
Silva in front of a home crowd in London this past March. While
Campbell was leading in the first round, Silva handed the
Englishman his first professional loss with a knockout early in the
second.

The only other matchup slated for UFC Paris revealed so far is a
flyweight clash between Michael
Aljarouj and Fabia
Sintes, with both 125-pounders set to make their Octagon
debuts.

New fight: Trevor Peek
vs. Kurtis
Campbell is set for #UFCParis
on Sept. 5, multiple sources tell me and @MikeBohn. Story
headed to @MMAjunkie
pic.twitter.com/PAzyvXkBwb

— Nolan King (@mma_kings)
July 13, 2026