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CONOR McGREGOR was forced out of UFC 303 after suffering a toe injury - but it was not his first rodeo.

McGregor was due to make his return on June 29 after three years out to face Michael Chandler.

Conor McGregor dislocated his toe and then reset it
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Conor McGregor dislocated his toe and then reset itCredit: NETFLIX
The incident happened before his 2018 fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov
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The incident happened before his 2018 fight with Khabib NurmagomedovCredit: NETFLIX

But for the first time in his UFC career, the Irishman withdrew having broken his toe just weeks out from the bout.

McGregor, 35, released pictures of his severely swollen foot last week and insisted he would not fight while injured.

The former two-weight UFC champion had developed a reputation of fighting through injury during his career.

He infamously claimed his foot had swollen to the size of a "balloon" by the time he faced arch rival Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018.

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And behind-the-scenes footage in his Netflix docuseries revealed the exact moment he suffered that toe injury.

He astonishingly had his doctor dislocate the injured toe before painfully resetting it.

McGregor went on to lose by fourth-round submission to Nurmagomedov and later said his performance was hampered due to injury.

He has not fought since July 2021 when he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier.

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McGregor spoke out for the first time about his injury after attending Bellator Dublin to explain his decision to withdraw.

He said: “I’m still here rocking away.

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The toe injury that forced McGregor out of UFC 303
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The toe injury that forced McGregor out of UFC 303Credit: X / TheNotoriousMMA
The UFC star refused to fight on injured
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The UFC star refused to fight on injuredCredit: X / TheNotoriousMMA
The Irishman shared snaps of his X-ray after suffering a broken toe in sparring
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The Irishman shared snaps of his X-ray after suffering a broken toe in sparringCredit: X / TheNotoriousMMA

“I had a little lapse in concentration, so I had to reschedule the belt, so I’m a little upset about that.

"But it’s keeping me dialled in. It’s keeping me focused. The job is not done.

"So that’s not bad for someone like me. I’m onwards towards the new date and take my lessons learned. It was a lapse in concentration.

"If I was any one of these other little bums that can’t move, that have no footwork, that don’t rely on their skills, then I would be OK.

"And I’ve done it before. I’ve made the walk a multitude of times in those circumstances and given these bums an advantage over me that they don’t even deserve.

"So now I’m dialling it in, I’m getting this training camp correct, I’m walking in there 100 per cent Conor McGregor, injury free.

"Perfection is on the menu with me, and that’s it.”

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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