Conor McGregor admits ‘deep pain’ watching UFC 303 fight week following injury

Conor McGregor’s return to the UFC’s octagon was supposed to happen this Saturday in Las Vegas. But now, he can only sit back and watch the International Fight Week festivities take place from afar.

McGregor was scheduled to headline UFC 303 against Michael Chandler before a broken toe scratched the biggest star in the history of the sport from the event. Now, the rematch for the light heavyweight title between Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka sits atop the fight card, and all McGregor can do is reflect on what could’ve been — as he did on Twitter Friday morning on the eve of the card.

“I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t in deep pain right now watching fight week take place,” McGregor said. “Deep mental pain. Thank you for the messages of support and encouragement, my peers and fans.”

As of now, the matchup with Chandler has not been rescheduled, but the former two-division champion hopes to compete in August or September. When he does make the walk, McGregor will do so for the first time in over three years since suffering a horrific leg injury in his TKO loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.