McGregor in 'deep mental pain' to miss UFC 303

Conor McGregor says he is in 'deep mental pain' to watch UFC 303 fight week go on without him.

The Irishman was scheduled to fight Michael Chandler as the headline event in Las Vegas on Saturday, before injury forced him to withdraw.

McGregor, 35, is instead watching the week unfold from Ireland as he continues his rehabilitation from a broken toe.

"I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t in deep pain right now watching fight week take place," he wrote on X.

"Thank you for the messages of support and encouragement, my peers and fans."

Alex Pereira stepped in to replace McGregor at the top of the UFC 303 bill, as he defends his light-heavyweight title against Jiri Prochazka on Saturday.

One Irishman remains on the card, Ian Machado Garry. The Dubliner faces England's Michael 'Venom' Page in a welterweight bout.

Garry, 26, has promised to step up in McGregor's absence as he looks to extend his 14-0 unbeaten record.