Conor McGregor makes surprise appearance at 3Arena for Bellator Dublin

Conor McGregor made a surprise appearance at the 3Arena on Saturday evening and spoke publicly for the first time about withdrawing from UFC 303.

The Dubliner suffered a broken toe in the build-up to his fight against Michael Chandler and pulled the plug just two weeks out from fight night.

But McGregor turned up at the 3Arena on Saturday night to support SBG teammate Sinead Kavanagh in her Bellator bout against Arlene Blencowe.

READ MORE: Conor McGregor details fight injury that forced UFC 303 withdrawal

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And the UFC star conducted an in-ring interview as he opened up on his UFC 303 withdrawal.

"I'm still here rocking away. I had a little lapse in concentration and I had to reschedule the bout so I'm a little upset over that but it's keeping me dialled in. It's keeping me focused. I can't rock around like I'm after showing up, like I'm doing my job, the job is not done," he said.

"I'm onwards towards the new date and take my lessons learnt. It was a lapse in concentration and if I was any one of these little bums that can't move and has no footwork and doesn't rely on their skills then I would be okay.

"I've done it before, I've made the walk a multitude of times under those circumstances and given these bums an advantage over me that they don't even deserve so now I'm dialling it in, I'm getting this training camp correct and I'm walking in there 100 percent Conor McGregor injury free, perfect is on the menu with me."

McGregor did not divulge when the new date would be but there is hope that fans will not have to wait too much longer for his return.

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