Conor McGregor has explained his relief at deciding not to wrap his ankles before heading into his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.
The Irishman gruesomely broke his leg in the first round of the contest, snapping his tibia cleanly while stepping back from a kick, but he claims that it could have been worse had he worn ankle tape.
McGregor was suffering from issues with his legs before the bout, and the break was the culmination of damage accrued during camp, and was recommended to wear wraps on his ankles in the changing rooms.
But he refused, and ultimately picked up the horror injury, although he says he is relieved that he made the decision.
"I thank my lucky stars every day for opting out of wrapping the ankle at the very last minute," he said in a social media post.
"Imagine it broke while in the wrap, I shudder to think. Heavy dinner it was. F*** it, onwards we go, I’m on way back!
McGregor is still recovering from the injury, and has jetted off again after making a brief stop home in Ireland after rehabbing his leg in America.
The Irishman is in Dubai on holiday, after a short trip to his home country over the last few weeks where he spent time at his pub The Black Forge Inn for the first time since its reopening.
His return to the UFC is expected next year, although no opponent has yet been touted, with the Irishman having only returned to training within the last week.
He was seen hitting pads with his coaches from the McGregor FAST program, but a return date is likely still months away.
He is expected to return in the early part of next year, and has indicated that he feels there is unfinished business between he and Poirier.
But it's highly unlikely that he would be granted a fourth fight with his rival should he win the title, given that McGregor has won just five once in the last five years since becoming the lightweight world champion at UFC 205 in New York.
Poirier is set to fight for the lightweight title, which McGregor held in 2016 after beating Alvarez in an historic night in New York, against Charles Oliveira next month at UFC 269.
He has teased an early 2022 rematch with Holloway, who has gone on to become one of the greatest featherweights in MMA history since his loss to McGregor in April.
The pair went back-and-forth on social media last week, and have often expressed an interest in fighting again, given that they had yet to hit their respective primes when they fought in 2013.
Former title contenders Michael Chandler and Nate Diaz have also been tipped as potential opponents for the Irishman.
A Diaz trilogy would have to happen soon, as the California native has just one fight left on his UFC contract and almost certainly won't re-sign as a boxing match with Jake Paul looms.
