- Conor McGregor withdrew from UFC 303 headliner against Michael Chandler
- He suffered broken little toe and main event was replaced on short notice
- McGregor is finding it tough to watch build-up to card he was supposed to be on
Conor McGregor has admitted he is ‘in deep pain’ watching UFC 303 fight week go ahead without him.
It was supposed to be the big comeback after three years out of the octagon for the most famous name in MMA but he withdrew due to a broken toe suffered in sparring.
His contest with Michael Chandler was then replaced on short notice for a rematch between Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka.
A McGregor fight week is usually filled with incident and entertainment and it seems the man himself is desperately missing being part of the show.
He wrote on X: ‘I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t in deep pain right now watching fight week take place.
Conor McGregor is out of UFC 303 with a broken toe and he is finding it tough to watch fight week
It has been three years since McGregor fought and that wait is rumbling on
‘Deep mental pain. Thank you for the messages of support and encouragement, my peers and fans.’
Six days ago, the former two-weight champion shared a message on Instagram explaining why he’d chosen to pull out of the fight.
He wrote: ‘Man we were so f***ing super ready for this fight it is absolutely gut wrenching to take. 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.
McGregor suffered the injury in sparring with the fight just days away
‘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 revealed an X-ray and photo of his bruised little toe and is keen to get back in action this year, though Dana White says he will wait until the Irishman is full healed up before discussing booking him again.
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