WATCH: “Foot was really a balloon” – RARE video of Conor McGregor crying in pain weeks ahead of Khabib Nurmagomedov grudge match

Conor McGregor has some palpable bad blood with Khabib Nurmagomedov; enough to fight him with a bad foot.

WATCH: “Foot was really a balloon” – RARE video of Conor McGregor crying in pain weeks ahead of Khabib Nurmagomedov grudge match

Conor McGregor with a swollen foot at SBG (Source: Twitter)

Back in 2018, UFC 229’s headlining bout was between two of the biggest names. The then-undefeated titleholder Khabib Nurmagomedov took on the Irish prodigy Conor McGregor in a grudge match. To this date, it holds steady as having most buyouts. The 155lbs title match at T-Mobile Arena drew an announced attendance of 20,034/ gate receipts of $17.2 million. The match holds such gravity that McGregor recently called a rematch with the Dagestani as the ‘biggest chicken’ in the combat sports world. 

Entailing some of the best one-liners in the lead-up banter, the match is prominently etched in the minds of MMA enthusiasts. The smallest tidbit about the matchup still excites fans. Recently, a resurfaced footage of McGregor has gone viral. The video shows the 22-6 former champion crying out in pain, at the Straight Blast Gym. “The Notorious”, contrary to his demeanor, is visibly wailing and stretching as his corner treats his left swollen foot.

YouTube video

McGregor incurred a defeat by way of a neck crank submission in the 4th round. But the Irishman has always remained determined on a rehash. So much so, that he once prominently jeered at 29-0 Khabib for having lost out of fear. The fighter does not shy away from jibing at ‘The Eagle’ and his American Kickboxing Association (AKA) peers, any chance he gets.

FS Video

He even quipped at 135lber Umar Nurmagomedov, in reply to his tweet. But on this occasion, the fighter emulates much pain, irrespective of resolve or strength. A prime reaction notes on his foot being abnormally swollen before the fight. Many hardcore fans have thus instigated the wailing and moaning of McGregor’s feet pain as his reason for losing the title shot.

Fans react to footage of Conor McGregor crying in pain before face-off with Khabib Nurmagomedov

Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s square-off at UFC 229 was an event of epic proportions. Any news or factoid about the bout, or the built-up banter excites fans even to this date.

Conor McGregor at Straight Blast Gym; Khabib Nurmagomedov
Conor McGregor at Straight Blast Gym; Khabib Nurmagomedov (Source: Twitter/IMAGO)

The Dubliner had lost out to the Dagestani combat Sambo expert, in way of a submission. Now, a recently surfaced footage of McGregor in pain even before the matchup has many fight fans in a frenzy.

Here’s how some of them have subsequently responded to the matter –

https://twitter.com/BoxingBullyNews/status/1748147787496296574?s=20

A handful of fans of the Irishman have empathetically tried installing the idea that McGregor would have won. That is if he had gone into the bout without a swollen foot.

Consequently, though, others have been dismissive of this notion, labeling it as a ‘casual fan’ prognosis. Many fans are thus opinionated that it could have gone either way, in favor of any of the fighters.

Nonetheless, such a discourse proves the amount of sentimental value the square-off holds even today.

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