Conor McGregor wasn’t shy about the fact that he was fighting with an injury following his UFC 189 win over Chad Mendes in July.
Then again, McGregor isn’t really shy about anything. That’s why the extent of that injury came as a bit of surprise when the Irishman revealed it to fans during a Q&A session in Dublin.
“Fourteen weeks before the fight I tore 80 percent of my ACL,” McGregor told fans for the first time publicly. “I could barely walk, I could barely kick.
“I had a lot of experience coming back from that injury. I was aware of my body, I was aware of my balance. I had a good team around me. I trusted everyone that was there. That’s how I perform.
“So, once again, I had a lot of adversity to overcome. But honestly, I went into that fight and I beat Chad (Mendes) on one leg. After going through that adversity I feel like I have gained three new legs.”
The light shed on McGregor’s injury underscores his passionate outward frustrations toward Jose Aldo, the UFC featherweight world champion who was set to put his belt on the line versus McGregor before pulling out of the fight just two weeks before it was scheduled due to a reported rib injury.
McGregor previously suffered an ACL injury in 2013 while fighting Max Holloway during UFC Fight Night 26. The interim featherweight champion will finally get a legitimate shot at the belt at UFC 194 in December versus Aldo.
Thumbnail photo via Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports Images
