Los Angeles (AFP)
Ireland's Conor McGregor underwent three-hour surgery on Sunday, less than 24 hours after his "sharp" fracture to his left tibia in his lost MMA fight against American Dustin Poirier, his agent has revealed.
"Conor is recovering after three hours of operation," explained his agent Audie Attar.
"The operation was successful, repairing the fractures in his tibia and fibula."
Doctors have revealed that the 32-year-old fighter broke his left tibia-fibula during the first round of the fight held in Las Vegas.
McGregor has already said he is considering a comeback after six weeks on crutches, in a video posted to a social network.
His agent added that doctors were "confident that over time he could fully recover. We are counting on his return to the octagon."
At the end of the first round on Saturday, the Irish MMA star collapsed after poor support before receiving a volley of punches to the face.
The Irishman had attacked hard in the first 30 seconds, then started backing up, bleeding from his mouth.
After a two-minute melee and ground clash, the pair rose to their feet, exchanging kicks, until McGregor fell.
This five-round lightweight match was billed as the latest in a trilogy between the two longtime rivals, with Poirier now positioning himself as one of the big stars of the UFC, following a second victory over McGregor in less than six months.
The fight between the two had previously been blown up, with death threats and offensive language, with McGregor insulting Dustin Poirier's wife on social media before the game and then during, as the doctor tried to immobilize his broken leg.
UFC American League boss Dana White explained on Sunday that he is already considering a fourth fight between Poirier and McGregor.
"We will fight again, whether in the octagon or on a sidewalk," threatened Dustin Poirier.
© 2021 AFP