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Conor McGregor horrified by apparent leg injury in Rome after Max Holloway defeat

The 38-year-old, who needs knee surgery after being hurt 69 seconds into his comeback, put his hands to his face as Francesco Morandi's bare-knuckle fight ended in round one.

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published · AI-assisted reporting
Max Holloway
Photo: UFC

Conor McGregor put his hands to his face at ringside in Rome on Tuesday as Francesco Morandi's bare-knuckle boxing fight with Ali Heibati ended in the first round, with Morandi screaming in agony from an apparent leg injury.

The injury was close to home for McGregor, who suffered his own setback just 69 seconds into his comeback against Max Holloway. He announced afterwards that he would need surgery on the damaged knee, and it remains unclear when he will be fit to fight again.

Commentator Robin Black made the comparison on the broadcast, saying McGregor had blown out his knee early in a fight not long ago and could completely relate to what had happened to Morandi.

The Holloway fight was McGregor's chance to put his injury problems behind him. It came five years after he broke his leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.

Morandi and Heibati met on the undercard of Hype Fighting's event at the PalaPellicone, where Raul Rosas Jr submitted Colby Covington in 43 seconds in the main event.

In this story
Max HollowayDustin PoirierColby Covington
READ NEXTConor McGregor says clip of him laughing after Covington submission is 'false and fully edited'Read the next story →

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Sources