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McGregor explains absence from UFC 303 fight against Chandler due to broken toe
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    McGregor explains absence from UFC 303 fight against Chandler due to broken toe

    Conor McGregor has shed more light on the injury that forced him to call off his UFC 303 main event fight against Michael Chandler.

    McGregor revealed a photo of a broken toe on his left foot and wrote in an Instagram post that he suffered the injury during a training session.

    “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,” McGregor wrote.

    “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.”

    The 35-year-old has not fought since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July of 2021. His only win since 2016 was a 2020 TKO of Donald Cerrone.

    McGregor vs. Chandler was first officially announced back in April even though the pair had been slated to meet ever since coaching opposite one another on The Ultimate Fighter reality series.

    Chandler, 38, has not fought since being submitted by Poirier at UFC 281 in 2022. The American has stayed consistent that he’d rather wait for this McGregor matchup to come to fruition as opposed to agreeing to face a different opponent.

    Current light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, as he did ahead of April’s historic UFC 300, will step up on short notice to headline the event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

    Pereira will face former light-heavyweight titleholder Jiri Prochazka in a rematch of a UFC 295 bout. Pereira knocked out Prochazka in November when they headlined at Madison Square Garden.

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    Conor McGregor in ‘good spirits’ after dropping out of UFC 303 with injury

    UFC fans were left disappointed when it was announced that Conor McGregor would not be fighting against Michael Chandler at UFC 303. The reason for McGregor’s absence was revealed to be a broken toe, which he explained in a recent interview.

    McGregor, known for his flashy fighting style and charismatic personality, has been a dominant force in the UFC for years. His absence from the highly anticipated fight against Chandler came as a shock to many fans, who were eagerly looking forward to seeing the two fighters go head-to-head in the octagon.

    In the interview, McGregor explained that he suffered the injury during a training session leading up to the fight. He described the moment when he realized something was wrong, saying, “I felt a sharp pain in my foot and knew right away that something was off.” Despite the injury, McGregor initially tried to push through and continue training, but ultimately had to make the difficult decision to pull out of the fight.

    McGregor expressed his disappointment at not being able to compete, stating, “I was really looking forward to this fight and I know the fans were too. It’s frustrating to have to sit out due to an injury, but I have to prioritize my health and recovery.”

    The broken toe is expected to sideline McGregor for several weeks as he undergoes treatment and rehabilitation. While it is unclear when he will be able to return to the octagon, McGregor remains optimistic about his future in the UFC and is determined to come back stronger than ever.

    In the meantime, fans will have to wait patiently for McGregor’s return and hope that he will be able to make a full recovery. Despite the setback, McGregor’s fighting spirit and determination are sure to carry him through this challenging time, and fans can look forward to seeing him back in action soon.