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Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff Writer
A broken toe is what prevented Conor McGregor from fighting Michael Chandler next week in Las Vegas, the UFC star revealed Friday.
McGregor (22-6) was due to face Chandler (23-8) at UFC 303 on June 29, but UFC CEO Dana White announced earlier this month that the fight was off. The nature of McGregor’s injury was not known until Friday, when McGregor posted about it for the first time since the fight cancellation.
“Man we were so f—ing super ready for this fight it is absolutely gut wrenching to take,” McGregor posted on Instagram. “… 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 just justify to my team, or fans, that I make the walk hindered again.”
UFC has since booked a light heavyweight title fight between Alex Pereira and JiYí Procházka to headline UFC 303. The promotion has not announced a time frame for rebooking McGregor.
McGregor, 35, has not fought since he suffered a broken leg in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021. His withdrawal from UFC 303 marked the first time in his storied career that he has been forced to pull out of a fight for any reason.
Chandler has not indicated whether he will wait for McGregor or book a new opponent. Chandler, 38, has not fought since November 2022, in large part due to waiting for McGregor. The two coached against each other on “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series in 2023.
McGregor also posted on social media Friday that he is the biggest possible fight for Chandler, writing that “he would need to fight 10 fights to make what he would make in this one.”
Chandler is getting paid 10x of what his contract states for other fights. Meaning he would need to fight 10 fights to make what he would make in this one. I’m The One.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) June 21, 2024
For those saying he could have fought 2 or 3 times by now etc. He’d need 10 to break even with this cheque.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) June 21, 2024
McGregor has now made multiple posts, including Friday’s on Instagram, promising an eventual comeback.
“I will get this back,” McGregor wrote. “I’ve got [to]. 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 … See ya’s soon. See ya at the top. Chandler or not.”