Conor McGregor, the UFC’s former two-division champion, has faced a string of setbacks in recent years. Following a lengthy absence because of a 2021 leg injury, he finally secured a highly anticipated comeback fight against Michael Chandler, the UFC’s #6 ranked lightweight contender at UFC 303. Unfortunately, McGregor’s return was cut short yet again by a pinkie toe injury.

The Irishman remained tight-lipped about his injury for quite some time. But in the last 2-3 days, he’s been actively updating fans. In light of this newfound transparency, he discussed the details of his injury in a recent interview.

Conor McGregor gives update on foot injury

Conor McGregor’s absence from the octagon has stretched on since his 2021 fight against Dustin Poirier, where a nasty leg break forced him to go on hiatus. Despite recovering, the Irishman’s return to MMA was further delayed by various commitments, including business ventures and Hollywood pursuits. Finally, after much procrastination, he announced his comeback fight date on New Year’s Eve.

Following his injury and surgery, the Irishman provided an update on his condition during a YouTube interview on the SevereMMA channel. When the host inquired about McGregor’s injury, the champion revealed, “Everything is moving parts, you know, so I’m good. The injury is new. It’s painful, I’m not going to lie. It’s very, very painful, probably even more painful than the leg, and that’s the truth. And I’ll tell you why: because the leg, at least, was wrapped up. I couldn’t access it. The foot is just there still.”

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McGregor further described the injury as feeling exposed and painful. He acknowledged that these setbacks are part of a fighter’s life. However, some critics disagree with the Irishman’s sentiment, pointing to the UFC’s current lightweight champion as a counterpoint.

Islam Makhachev took a dig at McGregor

The animosity between Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s camp and Conor McGregor has simmered ever since their infamous UFC 229 clash in 2018. This rivalry continues to captivate MMA fans worldwide. Recently, after McGregor’s controversial withdrawal from UFC 303 and subsequent criticism questioning the legitimacy of his injury, he attempted to silence the doubters by sharing a picture of his injury and X-ray. This move caught the attention of Islam Makhachev, Khabib’s teammate.

In a mocking tone, Islam Makhachev took his social media, calling Conor McGregor “chicken” on his X/Twitter post. He wrote, “You don’t need a pinkie toe for a fight lol. Chicken.” Makhachev didn’t stop there. He also compared Michael Chandler to the famous pop culture dog Hachiko, who loyally waited for his master’s return but was never reunited. His post regarding Chandler read “And my condolences to Michael ‘Hachiko’ Chandler.” Makhachev’s post implied that Chandler is just waiting around for McGregor to fight him like Hachiko waiting for his master.

Despite Makhachev’s taunt, neither Conor McGregor nor Michael Chandler has responded publically. However, for them, the most important thing right now is recovery. A successful return to the octagon would be the ultimate response to their critics. Unfortunately, there’s no new information on McGregor’s return timeline.

Do you think the 35-year-old would be able to make a comeback to the octagon this year? Drop your views in the comments.