McGregor: 'I tore 80 percent of my ACL' 14 weeks before UFC 189

Other than admitting he hurt his knee prior to UFC 189, Conor McGregor had largely remained mum about the severity of the injury.

Well, apparently it was pretty severe.

"Fourteen weeks before the fight I tore 80 percent of my ACL," McGregor said during a recent fan Q&A in Dublin, according to MMAFighting.com's Danny Segura. "I could barely walk, I could barely kick.

"I had a lot of experience coming back from that injury. I was aware of my body, I was aware of my balance. I had a good team around me. I trusted everyone that was there. That's how I perform."

When Jose Aldo pulled out of the bout with a rib injury, it afforded McGregor the perfect out: a beautiful little opening when he could've pulled the rip cord and waited patiently for the bout to be re-booked.

Instead, the impossibly brash Irishman fought late replacement Chad Mendes, capturing the interim featherweight title with a thrilling come-from-behind TKO victory.

"So, once again, I had a lot of adversity to overcome," McGregor added. "But honestly, I went into that fight and I beat Chad on one leg. After going through that adversity I feel like I have gained three new legs."

No stranger to knee injuries, McGregor suffered a torn ACL during a bout against Max Holloway at UFC Fight Night 26 in 2013. McGregor managed to forge ahead despite the injury, emerging victorious via unanimous decision.