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Popular featherweight Conor McGregor tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Saturday night and is expected to be sidelined for at least nine months, UFC president Dana White said Thursday night.  White revealed the injury to "Fox Sports Live." He also said McGregor suffered an MCL strain and posterior horn meniscus tear. McGregor, who defeated Max Holloway by unanimous decision Saturday night at UFC Fight Night 26 in Boston, said during the postfight news conference that he injured his left knee in the second round during a scramble on the ground. He believed the injury was minor, but results from an MRI taken Thursday revealed that the damage to McGregor's knee was extensive. "I heard a big pop and I let out a scream midround, but I passed into side control with it," McGregor said. "When we stood back up, I was unsteady on it." McGregor, a native of Dublin, has received lots of media attention since joining UFC. The buzz began April 6 in Stockholm, where McGregor knocked out veteran Marcus Brimage at 1:07 of the first round. The excitement followed McGregor to TD Garden in Boston on Saturday. A thunderous roar swept through the crowd of 12,539, led by a large contingent of Irish fans, when McGregor entered the arena. And the hard-hitting southpaw didn't disappoint his supporters. He staggered Holloway immediately with stiff right jabs, straight lefts and a few kicks. But McGregor's aggressive striking attack slowed midway through the second round when he injured the knee. McGregor, who made his U.S. debut Saturday night, expressed disappoint over not being able to finish Holloway. The win, however, improved his professional record to 14-2 (2-0 in UFC). Twelve of McGregor's wins have come by knockout. Before learning the seriousness of his fighter's injury, McGregor's coach John Kavanagh expressed a desire to have him face Diego Brandao at UFC 168 in December. Brandao, "The Ultimate Fighter" Season 14 winner, defeated Daniel Pineda by unanimous decision in an earlier bout on the UFC Fight Night 26 card.
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