CONOR McGREGOR stepped out in public for the first time since revealing the injury that forced him out of UFC 303.
The Irishman was set to face Michael Chandler on June 29 but for the first time in his UFC career, he pulled out of the fight.
Conor McGregor at Bellator Dublin
It was McGregor’s first public appearance since pulling out of UFC 303
McGregor in Sinead Kavanagh’s corner
And after a period of silence, McGregor took to social media to reveal a broken toe suffered in training forced his withdrawal.
Just days later, the ex-UFC champion was at the famed 3Arena in Dublin to corner his team-mate and good pal Sinead Kavanagh.
Kavanagh was beaten by Arlene Blencowe at Bellator Dublin with McGregor in her corner for the bout.
McGregor, wearing a grey tracksuit with a vest underneath, was seen playing to the crowd as he was given a heroes welcome.
The UFC legend, 35, has not fought since July 2021 when he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier, 35.
He gained a reputation during his meteoric rise for fighting through injury and never pulling out.
But with so much on the line in his return, McGregor insisted he could not take the risk of fighting Chandler, 38, injured.
He wrote: “It needs a few weeks that’s it. I couldn’t justify to my team, or fans, that I make the walk hindered again.
Inside McGregor’s Notorious lifestyle
With more sides to his personality than an Octagon, Conor McGregor’s rise has been an enthralling watch.
Going from UFC icon to entrepreneur and Hollywood star, the Irishman has transcended the sport he helped bring to the masses.
He has four children with fiancee Dee Devlin and the family enjoy a lavish lifestyle.
McGregor has not fought in UFC since breaking his leg in a trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in 2021.
That has not stopped him amassing a net worth of over £150m thanks to his Proper No Twelve whiskey and fashion line.
And he is due to return to the Octagon at UFC 303 in an eagerly-awaited headline clash with Michael Chandler.
McGregor also starred alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in the Amazon Prime remake of classic movie Road House, although he is dreading his mum seeing one X-rated scene.
Notorious turned up to the premiere in a £60,000 suit that was outdone by his £460k watch.
The only thing sharper than his fashion sense is his tongue and the Dubliner has several bitter spats under his belt, including with UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov.
That row led to one of his biggest controversies in 2018 as he travelled 3,000 miles to confront Khabib in a vicious attack on his bus.
He pleaded guilty to assault after punching a man in a pub in 2018 and had his £150k Bentley seized by police for driving offences four years later.
Joe Rogan lashed out at McGregor in a four-letter outburst and the Irishman has also fired shots at Jake Paul, KSI and Tommy Fury.
Boxing great Floyd Mayweather also has McGregor on his enemy list after the pair clashed in a cross-sport bout in 2017.
Read all of our latest Conor McGregor stories.
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“That walk has been seen. This next walk has got to be, and it will be, 100 per cent Conor McGregor.
“The fans deserve it and we are getting close. A slight lapse in concentration and a nuisance of an injury was picked up,” McGregor wrote.
“That’s it. Take the lesson and move forward. I will get this back. I’ve got too. 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.
“Cos I still got yachts and Bentleys and mansions and all the rest. Ya know yaself.
“But ya get me, I’ll be back. See ya’s soon. See ya at the top. Chandler or not.”
McGregor speaking out after Kavanagh’s defeat
X / TheNotoriousMMAMcGregor showed off his injured foot[/caption]
X / TheNotoriousMMAThis is the toe injury that forced McGregor out of UFC 303[/caption]