Daniel Cormier explains why Conor McGregor’s toe injury creates an “opportunity” for his UFC rivals

Daniel Cormier: Conor McGregor’s injury provides the opportunity to attack him

During a recent episode of Good guy/bad guy with Chael Sonnen, Cormier gave an interesting look at McGregor’s injury.

“I believe it’s been so long that he can’t continue the fight because he has way too much to lose,” Cormier said of McGregor. “I also hear that it is the toe on the same side as the broken leg. When I look at it, I think this is an opportunity for any fighter in his lane. You and Conor can go back and forth, but in the end it will be a lot of words. But for Islam Makhachev, for Ilia Topuria, if they go to Conor McGregor, it could eventually lead to something…

“They’re both holding gold belts,” Cormier continued. “If none of those guys had a championship belt, their words would be the same as those other random fighters calling him out. He doesn’t care… but if you hold a gold belt, you can sing Conor’s name and he will respond to you. That injury, what it was and why he withdrew now opens the door for all those guys…Leon Edwards should say something! If I’m the champion, I say, ‘Well, that’s BS, you’re fighting with a broken toe’.”

McGregor has not competed since losing to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. It is uncertain how long he will be sidelined due to the toe injury, but he hopes to return in late 2024.

Despite McGregor’s long hiatus, he has been called upon by the likes of UFC title holders Leon Edwards and Ilia Topuria. He remains perhaps the UFC’s biggest pay-per-view draw.

Cormier still expects a McGregor fight soon, but McGregor’s first-ever fight withdrawal will likely add to the pre-fight buildup and mental warfare ammunition for his opponents.