Conor McGregor could return to the UFC next year as he continues his recovery from a serious knee injury that threatened to end his professional career.

The Irishman’s highly anticipated return to action in July ended in disaster when he tore his ACL and meniscus in his right knee during the opening exchange of his fight against Max Holloway.

The setback prompted several conspiracy theories suggesting McGregor had a pre-existing injury and was not fully fit for the fight. However, his coach, John Kavanagh, has dismissed those claims, insisting the 38-year-old showed no signs of injury beforehand.

Conor McGregor’s coach addresses viral conspiracy theory

The nature of McGregor’s injury led many social media users to question whether he had already been carrying an injury before the fight, sparking a series of conspiracy theories.

Kavanagh insists there is no truth to those claims, maintaining that the injury was a freak occurrence with no prior warning signs.

“For the conspiracy theorists out there, he walked in with no injury. Zero injury. There was absolutely no injury. I can guarantee you that he was 100% going in. In fact, probably more healthy going into this one than the last few,” the coach told The Ariel Helwani Show.

“If I hadn’t seen it done, like, I don’t want to exaggerate, but at least 50 times in the months leading up to it, at least 50 different sparring sessions, and done every time he started pad sessions — it was just something he had done to death.

“I didn’t know what had happened. I wasn’t sure if it was a slip or what had gone on, but it was obvious when he stood up that something had gone terribly wrong.”

When could Conor McGregor return to the UFC?

McGregor was competing in his first fight since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier five years ago when he suffered the knee injury that threatened to derail his fighting career.

It was quickly speculated that the Irish mixed martial artist might have to bring the curtain down on his career, but Kavanagh insists the story may not be over.

McGregor has one fight remaining on his current UFC contract and appears determined to fulfil that commitment before considering a switch to boxing or another combat sport.

“He says he does [want to fight again]. I guess it’ll be next year before he can start returning to, obviously, you know, MMA-type training,” Kavanagh added.

“He’s going through his rehab now. And he’s back. He looks pretty good to me. He looks to be moving around quite well. So he’s been very aggressive with his therapy and his recovery.

“And then I guess we wait to see what happens next year. Who knows, maybe I am back talking to you next summer. I just don’t know if he’s done with competition just yet.”