McGregor reveals broken toe from unprotected sparring ended Chandler fight at UFC 303

Conor McGregor has finally explained how a broken toe derailed his long-anticipated fight with Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in 2024, with newly released UFC footage capturing the precise moment the injury occurred during a training session.

The clip, featured in the UFC 329 “Countdown” video, shows McGregor throwing a teep kick before pulling up in visible pain. He subsequently revealed that his training partner was not wearing shin guards at the time — a lapse he takes direct responsibility for.

“There were lapses in concentration in training,” McGregor said. “I’m the lead of the training. So if I’m lapsing in concentration, it filters down. And that is what took place. The training partner had no protection. Next thing you know, bang, broke my f*cking toe.”

McGregor pulled out of the Chandler bout 16 days before fight night, leaving Chandler — who had spent over a year waiting for the matchup to materialise — without an opponent. It was the latest in a series of setbacks that have kept the former UFC double champion out of competition since he broke his leg in a trilogy loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021.

Now carrying a professional record of 22-6, McGregor is scheduled to end that five-year absence against Max Holloway (27-9) at UFC 329 on 11 July at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Holloway enters the bout on the back of a knockout victory over Justin Gaethje that earned him the BMF title.

Despite the booking, scepticism surrounds McGregor’s return. He has been announced for multiple fights since 2021 without stepping into the octagon, and the Chandler withdrawal only deepened doubts among fans and observers about whether he can stay healthy through a full training camp. The UFC 329 Countdown footage appears to be a deliberate attempt to address those concerns head-on, offering a transparent account of what went wrong before UFC 303.