Conor McGregor shows off injury that forced UFC 303 withdrawal (PHOTO)

Josh Sanchez

Conor McGregor shows off injury that forced UFC 303 withdrawal (PHOTO) image

Conor McGregor has a message for the doubters. 

MMA veteran Chael Sonnen raised some eyebrows when he claimed McGregor withdrew from UFC 303 because he was in rehab

The baseless claim was incorrect, and now McGregor is showing the injury that forced him out of the scheduled bout against Michael Chandler. 

McGregor suffered a badly broken toe during a training session and showed the x-ray and his foot to prove it. 

MORE: Dana White unsure of Conor McGregor's UFC future after UFC 303 withdrawal

"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 said on Instagram. “It needs a few weeks that’s it.

"The fans deserve it and we are getting close. A slight lapse in concentration and a nuisance of an injury was picked up. That’s it. Take the lesson and move forward. I will get this back… I’ve got two fights left on my contract."

McGregor hopes to return by August or September. 

MORE: Michael Chandler reacts to canceled Conor McGregor fight at UFC 303

The UFC 303 pay-per-view bout was set to be McGregor's first octagon appearance since July 10, 2021. The bout ended with McGregor suffering a gruesome leg fracture after a kick from Dustin Poirier. 

Chandler, meanwhile, has not fought since November 2022, when he suffered a submission loss to Poirier. 

With McGregor vs. Chandler no longer on the card, light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira will defend his title against Jiri Prochazka on short notice in the new main event. 

Pereira and Prochazka previously fought at UFC 295 on November 11, 2023, with Pereira earning a second-round TKO win to claim the vacant light heavyweight title. 

UFC 303 takes place on Saturday, June 29, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event is part of the promotion's International Fight Week. 

Josh Sanchez

Josh Sanchez Photo

Josh Sanchez is an MMA contributor for Sporting News, along with serving as the managing editor of Cowboys FanNation on SI. After majoring in journalism at Seton Hill University, Josh began his writing career and has since had his work featured on SportsIllustrated.com, FOXSports.com, CBSSports.com, and many more.