June 29 was the highly anticipated date that Conor McGregor was set to make his UFC comeback, as he was scheduled to fight with Michael Chandler, nevertheless, the bout was called off and many were speculating as to why.
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That is, on Friday, McGregor disclosed that it was all a result of a toe injury he had incurred during a training session, as he explained in a post on Instagram.
🚨| Conor McGregor has revealed that it was a broken toe that forced him out of his #UFC303 main event with Michael Chandler. pic.twitter.com/axqllIK3py
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) June 21, 2024
"Man we were so f***ing super ready for this fight it is absolutely gut wrenching to take," McGregor wrote in the post. "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."
Conor McGregor shared photos of the toe injury that led to his canceled bout at #UFC303. pic.twitter.com/JxJ7ekUX5j
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 21, 2024
The UFC replaced the headlining fight with a light heavyweight title fight between Alex Pereira and JiYí Procházka, and many fans noted how this was ironic, considering Pereira had two broken toes.
https://twitter.com/cotyjitsu/status/1804194202642743572?s=46&t=XefkerHuIm6GM_ZXVMMI3w
Islam Makhachev reacts to Conor McGregor revealing a broken toe forced him off UFC 303 pic.twitter.com/yv6BqCiMBD
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) June 21, 2024
Both McGregor and Chandler appeared on Ultimate Fighter season 31 last year, in which they were coaches going up against each other.
Conor McGregor shoved Micheal Chandler on tonight’s upside of The Ultimate Fighter 😳pic.twitter.com/UhRXpuKIee
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 5, 2023
Notably, the two of them have been out of the octagon for quite some time. That is to say, 35-year-old McGregor (22-6) has not fought since July 2021, when he had a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier. On the other hand, 38-year-old Chandler (23-8) hasn't exchanged blows with anyone since November 2022.
Fans are accusing McGregor of being the reason why Chandler has not been able to fight, citing that he was waiting for the Irishman.
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
Many hope to see McGregor back fighting, as he is the first UFC fighter to ever hold championships in two weight classes (featherweight and lightweight). With that being said, 'The Notorious' promises his return in the near future.
"I will get this back," McGregor wrote on Instagram. "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."
Related: Conor McGregor Seen Out Dancing, Partying With Fiancee Past 2 A.M.
