While Conor McGregor tried to downplay the severity of Rafael dos Anjos’ injury, saying the UFC Lightweight Champ simply bruised his foot, dos Anjos’ manager Ali Abdelaziz this week sought to fire back with a picture of the Champ’s foot in a cast.
“This message for the bulls*** guy and his fans saying [Rafael dos Anjos] have a bruise,” Abdelaziz wrote. “When you have a bruise you don’t have a cast on. One thing I can tell you Conor was relieved when he found out Rafael dos Anjos was injured and I really mean it this is not trash talking I truly mean it.”
According to a report from FoxSports.com, dos Anjos is expected to be in the cast for three weeks, with another five weeks in a walking boot before he can return to training.
Penick’s Analysis: McGregor’s bluster is just that, but it’s not surprising that it touched a nerve, either. That was the intent, he’s gotten the type of reaction he seeks often, and now all dos Anjos can do is stew in his recovery and hope the UFC wants to make that fight happen when he returns. Given he can’t train until close to May, it’s unlikely he’s ready for UFC 200 even if the UFC would consider him in that spot, which means McGregor probably fights someone else, and he’s delayed further. What’s interesting here is that now McGregor’s gotten dos Anjos and his team to want to fight him more than his own desire to fight for a second title. It’s an uncanny ability he’s got to make so many want to punch him in the face.
[Photo (c) Joe Camporeale via USA Today Sports]
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Next time hopefully when Dos Anjos signs to fight McGregor again, he won’t bust up his foot or whatever body part days before the scheduled fight. Funny McGregor has never pull out because of injuries or whatever. He has always made weight, faught through any injuries and adversities, and continue to do what he does, consistantly.
Maybe Dos Anjos camp needs to sit the eff down and shut the eff up. Sure injuries happen but that’s why intelligent fighters don’t go breaking their bodies or can’t make weight or can’t test clean or whatever making excuses 2 weeks before a fight. It’s really unprofessional and Dos Anjos is suppose to be a “champion”.