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'HEALING SO BEAUTIFULLY'
Conor McGregor ‘ahead of schedule’ in recovery from leg break and determined to end UFC & MMA career on ‘his own terms’
CONOR MCGREGOR is well 'ahead of schedule' in his recovery from the broken leg he suffered at UFC 264.
The promotion's first simultaneous two-weight world champion shattered his left tibia and fibula in his July trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier.
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But the Irishman is already back on his feet and in the gym training, although he's yet to resume kicking.
And manager Audie Attar reckons The Notorious is on course to return earlier than doctors first anticipated.
The Paradigm Sports Management chief told SunSport: "He's ahead of schedule.
"We not only just got our x-ray results [back], [we got] our ultrasound results and CT scan results.
"And when I look at the view of the x-ray myself, it's healing so beautifully.
"He's only 10-and-a-half weeks out of surgery and he's walking.
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"And he's actually doing s**t that we don't want him to do like throwing the first pitch at the Cubs game."
Fans of Ireland's first UFC champion had their hearts in their mouths when they saw the 33-year-old put all his body weight on his injured leg before his wayward pitch.
Attar was one of those concerned, laughing as he said: "That was not meant to be, ill-advised and not do that.
"But the competitor that he is, here is donating his time, energy and resources to sponsor some kids that are coming from a disadvantaged community.
"But he's so competitive that he sees both of them throw a pitch and the competitive bug just bit him.
"Against all advice of the doctor, he got out there threw the first pitch.
"As he dubbed it, 'the most devastating pitch in Major League Baseball history'. But he had fun doing it."
The positive from the viral pitch was that McGregor's leg bore his entire weight and he showed no signs of discomfort.
He's ahead of schedule
Conor McGregor's manager, Audie Attar
Attar said: "When you look at what he did in terms of planting his weight on that one foot, people don't really realise [the significance]. They forget what happened.
"At that point, it was ten weeks from surgery after a devastating injury and he's planting his full weight on the leg.
"And, by the way, that was the first time he threw a baseball.
"He had never ever even touched a baseball. So not only was that the first time he touched a baseball, it was the first time he threw a baseball.
"And on the leg that he shouldn't be putting that type of pressure on ten weeks out of surgery."
Fan favourite McGregor, the UFC's poster boy, recently admitted he'd struggled during the early stages of his ongoing recovery.
But the former feather and lightweight champion is in a good place as he closes in on a faster than anticipated return.
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Attar said: "All fun aside, he's just in a good state. He's in a good state.
"The one thing I try tell Conor is, 'You've already earned your legacy already. You don't have to prove anything to anybody.'
"'Financially, you never have to ever fight again in your life. Because we've built amazing businesses.'
"He's an entrepreneur and we continue to not only set precedent but set the way forward for all athletes. Not just MMA athletes, but all athletes."
July 2022 is the earliest McGregor is expected to make his eagerly-anticipated return to the octagon, in which he'll look to bounce back from consecutive losses to Poirier.
And the pride of Dublin is hellbent on erasing the memory of his last outing when he next sets foot inside the cage.
Attar said: "He's so competitive, man. He's like, 'I'm not thinking about the UFC.
"'Whatever. I'm not thinking about fighting. But I'm gonna get back there.'
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"So if the first pitch is any indication of what may happen, God willing the healing process continues on a straight path, he's gonna come out there and want to continue to compete.
"Because he wants to leave on his own terms. Not on the terms that he's been dealt in his last fight."
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