Conor McGregor reveals the reason he is in ‘deep mental pain’

UFC legend Conor McGregor has revealed that he is in ‘deep mental pain’ after an injury forced him to cancel his fight against Michael Chandler at the UFC 303 main event.

McGregor had been training for his return to the octagon, facing off against Chandler who is the sixth-ranked UFC lightweight fighter and former Bellator lightweight champion. During a training session, McGregor hit his foot off a sparring partners elbow, and broke his pinky toe.

McGregor, who communicates with his fans primarily through X, wrote: "I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t in deep pain right now watching fight week take place. Deep mental pain. Thank you for the messages of support and encouragement. My peers and fans."

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The UFC 303 event would have been McGregor’s return to pay-per-view fighting, after a three and a half year hiatus. He explained the injury to his supporters saying: “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 expressed his determination to put on a show when he eventually does make it back to the Octagon.

“I couldn’t justify to my team, or fans, that I make the walk hindered again,” he said. “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.”

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For now, Alex Pereira will defend his title for the second time on short notice against former UFC light heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka, in a replacement fight.

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