Conor McGregor has revealed the injury that took him out of UFC 303.
On June 29, the former two-division titleholder was scheduled to make his first walk to the Octagon in nearly three years for a clash with former Bellator MMA champion ‘Iron’ Michael Chandler. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case after McGregor was forced to bow out of the bout due to an injury.
Previously, the injury had been undisclosed, but McGregor opted to end all the speculation on social media, revealing that he had broken his pinky toe during a training session.
“Man we were so fucking super ready for this fight it is absolutely gut wrenching to take,” McGregor wrote on Instagram. “I want that new Bugatti how I gone justify to myself getting that now without banking these fights. We had a lapse in concentration and engaged in a training session without wearing the full protective gear and I hit the toe off the elbow and broke the toe clean. It needs a few weeks that’s it. I couldn’t justify to my team, or fans, that I make the walk hindered again.
“That walk has been seen. This next walk has got to be, and it will be, 100% Conor McGregor. The fans deserve it and we are getting close. A slight lapse in concentration and a nuisance of an injury was picked up. That’s it. Take the lesson and move forward. I will get this back. I’ve got too. I’ve got two fights left on my contract. I’ve got Bugattis and more yachts on my mind. I’m coming to shine. I gotta just take my time. Cos I still got yachts and Bentleys and mansions and all the rest. Ya know yaself. But ya get me, I’ll be back. See ya’s soon. See ya at the top. Chandler or not.”
McGregor also offered up a few pics of the injury, including an X-ray, while taking a dig at three-time title challenger Chael Sonnen who had previously suggested that the Irishman backed out of UFC 303 due to entering rehab rather than sustaining an injury.
“Chael shut your pie hole, hoe,” McGregor added on X. “You tap from ground and pound.”
https://x.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1804186016405688722?re=
Islam Makhachev and RDA Slam Conor McGregor
The revelation certainly didn’t go over well with some fighters, including reigning UFC lightweight world champion Islam Makhachev who threw some shade at ‘Mystic Mac’ for withdrawing for a broken toe.
“You don’t need a pinkie toe for a fight lol. Chicken,” Makahchev wrote.
https://x.com/MAKHACHEVMMA/status/1804208112636670288
Former 155-pound champ Rafael dos Anjos offered his two cents on the situation, recalling the time he was forced to back out of a fight with McGregor at UFC 196 due to a broken foot.
“That’s the difference between me and you Conor, you finally got exposed,” RDA commented. “You got a pinky toe injury while I got a broken foot. Let me know what you guys think on the comments below.”
That’s the difference between me and you Conor, you finally got exposed. You got a pinky toe injury while I got a broken foot. Let me know what you guys think on the comments below. https://t.co/q79Do4eLnL pic.twitter.com/iiH1RRMKIS
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) June 21, 2024
Fortunately, a pinky toe fracture generally only takes 4-6 weeks to heal, meaning rumors of McGregors’ fight with Chandler being rebooked for September could hold true.
However, it looks like ‘Iron’ may have already moved on, hinting at a potential BMF title clash with former featherweight champ Max ‘Blessed’ Holloway.
