McGregor: There were stress fractures in my leg before UFC 264

Conor McGregor says his leg wasn't 100% going into his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier.

The former two-division champion said Thursday he suffered stress fractures - which are tiny cracks in a bone - in his leg ahead of UFC 264 last weekend. He lost to Poirier by doctor's stoppage after breaking his tibia and fibula late in the first round.

"I was injured going into the fight," McGregor said in an Instagram video. "People are asking me, when was the leg broke? At what point did the leg break? Ask Dana White, ask the UFC, ask Dr. (Jeffrey) Davidson, the head doctor of the UFC. They knew ... I had stress fractures in my leg going into that cage.

"There was debate about pulling the thing out because I was sparring with no shin pads and I would kick the knee a few times. So I had multiple stress fractures in the shinbone above the ankle."

McGregor underwent surgery Sunday to repair his leg and was released from the hospital in Los Angeles on Wednesday. UFC president Dana White said he expects McGregor to return to action "in a year."

John Kavanagh, McGregor's head coach, said earlier this week the Irishman had experienced ankle issues during his training camp prior to the Poirier bout.

"The Notorious" said he's dealt with ankle problems in the past, but he continued his workouts ahead of UFC 264 even when the ankle became sore.

"I'm motivated, I'm going to do this," McGregor said of his recovery.

"I'm going to come back," he added. "The leg is better than ever."