AMERICAN martial artist Conor McGregor sustained what appeared to be a serious leg injury as he lost to lightweight rival Dustin Poirier via doctor’s stoppage in round one at UFC 264 in Las Vegas, the United States, on Saturday.

McGregor, considered as the biggest star in mixed martial arts, talked all sorts of smack and vowed that Poirier would leave the Octagon at T-Mobile Arena after their lightweight fight on a stretcher.

But it turns out that it was McGregor who got the ride out of the cage.

He break his left leg when he was dropped by Poirier with about 10 seconds left in the first round of their rubber match.

Poirier dropped McGregor back against the cage into his corner and McGregor’s leg collapsed under him. Poirier landed several ground and pound shots before the bell rang.

But McGregor never got off the canvas and referee Herb Dean, after crouching and speaking to McGregor, stopped the bout.

Poirier said he thought McGregor had fractured the leg earlier when he checked a kick, but it rolled back badly under him after the huge punch Poirier landed.

McGregor won the first fight between them at UFC 178 in 2014 by first-round finish. But Poirier won the last two and now moves on to a title fight against lightweight champion Charles Oliveira, who was seated at cageside. (SD-Agencies)