Conor McGregor was set to make his highly-anticipated comeback at UFC 303, but a toe injury has forced him to withdraw from the event. The Irishman was scheduled to face Michael Chandler in the main event, but he has now revealed the severity of his injury, claiming that the pain from the broken toe is even worse than when he suffered a leg break in 2021.
McGregor, who has been a huge star in the UFC, has been forced to cancel his participation in the Dublin press conference for the event due to the injury. He explained that he was unable to even fit his foot into a shoe, making it impossible for him to attend the event and meet with fans.
“The injury is a nuisance and I’m not going to lie, it’s very, very painful,” McGregor said. “Probably even more painful than the leg and that’s the truth. I’ll tell you why; because the leg at least was wrapped up, I couldn’t access it. The foot is just there, still. It’s like it’s exposed still, so it’s a bit painful but it comes with the f*cking territory.”
Despite the setback, McGregor remains determined to return to the octagon as soon as possible. He is eyeing a potential comeback as early as August or September, but he knows he needs to take the time to properly recover and “dial in” his training camp.
“I’m in recovery mode, it’s three weeks to the day, it happened three weeks ago today,” he explained to severe MMA. “I’m still here rocking around in the slippers. They’re not bad slippers now, thankfully, and they’re cosy enough. But I can’t get into a shoe yet. I’ve done everything they asked.”
McGregor’s dedication to the sport is undeniable, and he is adamant that he will return to the octagon in top shape. He has acknowledged the disappointment of the fans who were eagerly awaiting his comeback, but he believes that it is better to postpone the fight than to risk further injury or a subpar performance.
“I’m sad for the fans that wanted the entertainment for the press conference and the pay-per-view and the card and all,” he said. “But look, it’s just one of those things, how could I justify making that walk again and then being stationary and flat on the feet? Then what would I say to my fans afterwards? ‘Oh no, this happened but I made the walk for you guys’? The fans have seen this, I can’t do it again, they need to see the best of me if they’re paying that much and all.”
As McGregor continues his recovery, fans will eagerly await his return to the octagon, hoping to see the Irishman at his best once again.
